In the wake of recurring natural disasters and a worsening climate crisis, farmers across the Philippines are calling for immediate compensation for the damages inflicted on agriculture, according to peasant group Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas. KMP has launched a nationwide campaign to hold the Marcos Jr. administration accountable for abandonment and negligence of the farming sector.

KMP highlights the continuous loss of billions of pesos in agricultural output due to extreme weather conditions such as typhoons, El Niño, and La Niña. According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, over ₱299 billion in agricultural damages have been recorded between 2006 and 2019, yet no significant recovery programs have been implemented to support affected farmers.

“The Department of Agriculture offers only loans with excessive requirements. Despite large sums earmarked for disaster risk reduction and management, farmers and fishers do not feel the benefits,” the group said in a statement. From 2016 to 2022, ₱1.515 trillion was allocated for disaster management, but it has barely reached those most affected, particularly rural communities,” according to KMP chairperson and Makabayan Senatorial candidate Danilo Ramos.

The campaign for compensation denounces the government’s disaster risk management programs, criticizing their inefficiency and failure to comply with international agreements that call for the protection of livelihoods, natural resources, and human rights in response to climate crises. They attribute the worsening situation to destructive projects such as large-scale mining, deforestation, and land-use conversions that increase farmers’ vulnerability to natural disasters.

In their unified call, farmers are demanding:

> Compensation for agricultural damage, covering production costs and destroyed harvests.

> Immediate financial assistance, including the release of stored relief goods intended for victims of past disasters.

> Exposure of the government’s corruption, mismanagement, and lack of concrete plans in addressing the climate crisis.

The farmers are also pressing for specific subsidies, including a ₱25,000 production subsidy for farmers, ₱15,000 for fishers, and ₱10,000 financial aid for those affected by typhoons and floods.

“Our farmers and rural workers bear the brunt of climate disasters. It is time to unite and fight for the compensation and support they rightfully deserve,” Ramos concluded. ##