The Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) criticized President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s New Year message as hollow rhetoric, calling out his misplaced emphasis on “Filipino resilience” while neglecting the regime’s accountability for worsening hardships endured by the people.

Marcos Jr glorifies the “Filipino resilience” while evading accountability for his administration’s glaring failures in addressing disasters, inflation, and systemic poverty. The group emphasized that the rhetoric of resilience has been weaponized to excuse the state’s criminal neglect.

“President Marcos praises Filipino resilience as if it absolves his administration of its criminal neglect. The catastrophic disasters of 2024—from severe drought to typhoons—exposed how unprepared and uncaring this government truly is. Farmers, who are at the forefront of these crises, were left to fend for themselves without adequate disaster response, production subsidies, or compensation,” says Danilo Ramos, KMP chairperson and Makabayan senatorial candidate.

The group noted how successive typhoons, along with a crippling El Niño, left billions worth of damages to agriculture, yet the government’s response was limited to tokenistic aid and delayed interventions. Farmers received neither sufficient financial assistance nor systemic support to recover lost livelihoods.

The group highlighted how rising and steady inflation, exacerbated by Marcos’ failed economic policies, further deepened poverty among the masses. “How can he urge Filipinos to look forward with hope when skyrocketing prices of rice, fuel, utilities, and basic goods make daily survival an uphill battle? The President’s promise of a ‘Bagong Pilipinas’ is nothing but a cruel farce,” Ramos added.

KMP also took a swipe at Congress, which recently touted its historic legislative productivity. “This is no more than just empty boasting. While over 160 measures have been enacted into law, none address the chronic issues of landlessness, rural poverty, or food insecurity. KMP pointed out the lack of legislation that addresses agrarian reform or alleviates rural poverty. Instead, laws like the Agricultural Tariffication Act further jeopardize food security by exposing Filipino farmers to unfair competition from imports.

“The 19th Congress churned out laws that favor corporations and entrenched elites while neglecting the urgent needs of farmers. This administration thrives on photo ops and self-praise, but the reality on the ground tells a different story. Farmers are displaced, disaster victims are neglected, and inflation continues to erode the people’s meager income. It is time that we hold the Marcos administration accountable for its failures,” Ramos emphasized.

As 2025 begins, KMP reaffirmed its commitment to pushing for genuine agrarian reform, production subsidies for farmers, and programs that prioritize the welfare of the masses. “Filipino resilience has always been extraordinary, but it should not be used to justify government incompetence. A society that truly values its people’s strength will ensure they are equipped not just to survive but to thrive,” Ramos concluded.