Seven years since the passage of RA 11203 or the Rice Liberalization Law (RLL), the crisis in rice and palay has only deepened. Signed into bill by Rodrigo Duterte, the law has driven down farmgate prices, pushed farmers into bankruptcy and debt, and turned the Philippines into a consistent top rice importer while consumers continue to suffer from high rice prices. Instead of strengthening local production, the government further liberalized importation and reduced tariffs, favoring big traders, importers, hoarders, and smugglers at the expense of Filipino farmers. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has chose to continue this punishment against farmers and doubled down on massive importations, lack of support, and continued debilitation of the local rice industry.

“Klarong-klaro na ang RLL ay bigong batas na pumabor lamang sa malalaking negosyante at importer habang binabarat ang presyo ng palay at pinapabayaan ang lokal na produksyon,” said Danilo Ramos, chairperson of KMP. “Sa ilalim ng administrasyon ni Bongbong Marcos, lalong lumubha ang krisis sa bigas—tuloy ang importasyon, bagsak ang presyo ng ani ng magsasaka, at nananatiling mahal ang bigas sa merkado.”

Ramos stressed that the administration’s policies have aggravated corruption in the agriculture sector while neglecting genuine support for farmers, irrigation development, and national industrialization. “Ang dapat ibasura ay hindi lamang ang batas kundi ang mga patakarang nagbabaon sa magsasaka sa utang at kahirapan. Pananagutin natin ang rehimen sa krisis sa bigas at palay at ipaglalaban ang tunay na reporma sa lupa at pambansang industriyalisasyon bilang pangmatagalang solusyon,” he said.

KMP also calls on farmers and the broader public to join the February 25 commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the EDSA People Power uprising, aimed at holding the Marcos administration accountable and amplifying the demand to end corruption and anti-farmer policies. Ramos added that accountability must extend to Sara Duterte over mounting controversies and anti-people policies under her watch.

On the 40th year of EDSA, KMP reiterates its call to oust both Marcos and Duterte from power, asserting that only through their removal and the establishment of a government truly responsive to farmers and the masses can genuine change be achieved. ###