October 3

Rice farmers from Guimba, Talavera, Aliaga, Muñoz, Sto. Domingo and San Antonio in Nueva Ecija, joined by Malolos farmers in Bulacan, staged a “Protestang Bukid” to demand a P20 per kilo floor price for palay and the junking of the Rice Liberalization Law (RLL), which they said has driven farmgate prices down to P7 to P11 per kilo and buried farmers in debt.

October 7

Farmers from Nueva Ecija and Bulacan, joined by Bantay Bigas, Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), and AMIHAN held a press conference in Quezon City to answer urgent issues concerning government response to plunging palay prices and to demand a P20 per kilo floor price for fresh palay, the junking of rice liberalization Law.

In the press conference, Crisostomo Marzan of the Nagkakaisang Magsasakang Novo Ecijano (NAMANE) said farmers continue to suffer as farm gate prices drop to P7–P11 per kilo, far below the production cost of P14 per kilo. “Lugi na bago pa man maani,” Marzan said. “Ang makatarungang presyo ay P20 kada kilo pataas para mabuhay ang mga magsasaka.”

Following the press conference, farmer leaders engaged in back-to-back dialogues with House Speaker Faustino ‘Bojie’ Dy III and Rep. Enverga of the House Committee on Agriculture and Food to present their demands. They urged Congress to immediately repeal the Rice Liberalization Law (RA 11203) and replace it with RIDA, (RLL), and the enactment of the Rice Industry Development Act (RIDA), a pro-farmer alternative that pushes for national rice self-sufficiency and food sovereignty. The measure was drafted in consultation with farmers and aims to strengthen local rice production. During the dialogue, KMP’s Rafael Mariano presented the need for agricultural disaster compensation for farmers. Cathy Estavillo’s Bantay Bigas presented that sectors are gathering half a million signatures supporting the junking of RLL and the enactment of RIDA.

Farm workers from Nueva Ecija’s Liga ng Manggagawang Bukid also raised their demands for better working conditions and subsidies amid loss of livelihood caused by Halimaws or combined harvesters. Bulacan farm workers also raised their calls for higher wages, protection from land-use conversion, and recognition as essential agricultural workers, asserting that the survival of rice farmers and farm workers is vital to national food security.

“The Rice Liberalization Law is a death sentence to Filipino rice farmers, repeal it now,” the farmers said. ###