The Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) challenged House Majority Leader Sandro Marcos Jr and Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food chairperson Cynthia Villar to try living a day in their lives as farmers. “We do not need these billionaires telling us farmers what to do. Their job, as elected legislators, is to pass pro-farmer measures including the Genuine Agrarian Reform Bill, the Rice Industry Development Act, and the P15 Production Subsidy for farmers Bill among others,” according to the group.

“Sina Cong. Sandro at Senator Cynthia mismo ang unang dapat sumubok na gumawa ng mga suhestyon nila. Let’s see if they can survive a day of backbreaking work in the fields,” according to peasant leader Danilo Ramos.

Ramos, 64, plants all-year round on his family’s parcel of awarded land in Bulacan. The KMP leader regularly grows rice, vegetables, fruit trees, and root crops.

“Iniimbitahan ko si Rep. Sandro at Senator Villar na samahan akong magtanim sa bukid. Maari rin naming pag-usapan ang mga kagyat na panawagan ng mga magsasaka — production subsidies, mapababa ang presyo ng farm inputs at buhusan ng suporta ang agrikultura,” Ramos said.

The young Marcos drew flak after giving unsolicited advice that palay farmers should try shifting to growing dragonfruit when “palay is not needed.” Senator Villar on the other hand, suggests that farmers plant root crops during the typhoon season since these are less likely to be destroyed by storms.

KMP reiterated its demand for substantial cash aid and production subsidies for farmers and fisherfolk. Out of the P206.5 billion ayuda announced by the Department of Budget and Management, only P1 billion allocated is allocated for the Department of Agriculture’s fuel subsidy for corn farmers and fisherfolks. The agency will also continue its distribution of fertilizer discount vouchers. ###