Against the backdrop of record-breaking rice importation levels, Makabayan senatorial candidates Danilo “Ka Daning” Ramos, Mimi Doringo, Liza Maza and Teddy Casiño joined farmers in a Farm Field Day in Malolos, Bulacan yesterday, November 15.

The activity emphasized the need to boost local rice production and provide immediate relief to farmers battered by climate disasters and low farmgate prices. Makabayan senatorial candidates Danilo Ramos, Mimi Doringo, Liza Maza, and Teddy Casiño joined farmers in harvesting palay and planting crops as part of their campaign to advance food security to combat the rice crisis and rising import dependency.

This year, the Philippines is set to import a staggering 5 million metric tons (MT) of rice, further cementing its position as the world’s top rice importer. According to the Bureau of Plant Industry, rice imports as of October 2024 have already reached 3.79 million MT, surpassing the 3.6 million MT imported in 2023. This dependence on imports, primarily from Vietnam, has increased following devastating typhoons and the prolonged effects of El Niño, which reduced local palay output by 12.3% in the third quarter of 2024.

“Rice importation at this scale severely hurts local farmers and makes our food supply vulnerable to global market fluctuations,” said Danilo Ramos, chairperson of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP). “We need to strengthen local production to ensure food security and reduce dependence on imports.”

The Farm Field Day showcased the challenges facing Filipino farmers, from climate-induced disasters to government policies that prioritize importation over local production. Ramos highlighted several demands to address these issues:

> Genuine land reform to liberate farmers from land monopoly and secure their ownership of agricultural lands.

> Full production subsidies and compensation to help farmers recover from natural calamities like El Niño and typhoons, which have caused billions of pesos in agricultural damage since last year.

> Rice price stabilization measures through direct government procurement of palay at fair prices, protecting farmers from exploitative farmgate rates.

Record-breaking rice imports

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) projects the Philippines’ rice imports to reach 5.1 million MT in 2025 due to increasing consumption and low domestic production. The government’s decision to reduce rice import tariffs to 15% under Executive Order No. 62 until 2028 has further incentivized traders to import rice rather than source locally.

Farmers and advocates have strongly criticized this policy, arguing it displaces local producers and exacerbates rural poverty. “The reliance on imports undermines our farmers’ livelihoods and weakens our capacity to produce our own food,” according to KMP chairperson Danilo Ramos.

“Every grain of imported rice represents a missed opportunity to empower our local farmers,” said urban poor leader Mimi Doringo. “We must shift our focus to strengthening local rice production and ensuring that farmers are supported all throughout.”

The Makabayan senatorial candidates challenged the Marcos Jr administration to realign its policies to prioritize farmers and food self-sufficiency. “Genuine land reform and strong local production will not only stabilize food prices but also build a more resilient agricultural sector,” Ramos added.

“The heavy reliance on imports shows the failure of the government to support our farmers,” said Liza Maza, former @Gabriela Women’s Party Representative.

The coalition reiterated its call: Support local farmers, strengthen local food production and fight for genuine land reform. ###