As food price shock looms, farmers demand for urgent and significant aid and gov’t interventions

The Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) today warned of an imminent spike in food prices and called for swift, decisive action from the government, particularly the trade and agriculture departments under the Marcos Jr. administration.

Farmers, fishers and peasant advocates protest at the Department of Agrarian Reform and Department of Agriculture this morning to demand urgent aid for farmers, fisherfolk and agriculture sectors amid the crisis. “This national energy emergency could swiftly escalate into a widespread food security emergency not just on rice but on all food and commodities.”

The month-long US and Israel war against Iran are intensifying the global economic crisis, driving up fuel costs and basic commodity prices. Disruptions in fuel supply, fertilizer inputs, and global logistics are already impacting food production. The Department of Agriculture (DA) has acknowledged that the rising production costs especially for fertilizer and transport will inevitably push food prices higher. Farmers said a bag of urea now costs P2,100 to as much as P2,800.

Rice prices have surged to P60 to P65 per kilo in the past week following consecutive mega oil price hikes. KMP warned that conditions could rapidly deteriorate, citing “worst-case projections” of up to a 50% increase in retail prices of rice, pork, and chicken if the crisis persists.
KMP criticized current responses from the DA at Malacanang, including price caps on imported rice, as inadequate stop-gap measures that fail to address long-standing problems in agriculture. “Ang gobyerno naka work from home, ang taumbayan no food at home. Halos wala nang kinikita at kulang na ang kinakain ng mga manggagawa, magsasaka, tsuper at iba pang maralita dahil sa taas ng mga presyo at malalang krisis. Napakainutil ng mga solusyon na ibinibigay ng gobyernong Marcos.”

“Filipino farmers and consumers are once again being made to suffer from a crisis not of their making,” said Ronnie Manalo, KMP Secretary General. “Kung magtatagal pa ang gera ng US sa Middle East, mas mahirap na kalagayan at kagutuman ang mararanasan ng mga Pilipino.”

The group also warned against continued reliance on importation, stressing that it undermines local production and heightens vulnerability to global price shocks. “We have long asserted that import dependence worsens our exposure to global volatility. What we urgently need are price controls on oil and fertilizer, substantial support for local farmers such as production subsidies, irrigation, fuel assistance, and price support to stabilize food supply and prices,” Manalo added.

KMP emphasized that rising fuel costs are already triggering a cascading effect across the food system, increasing farm input costs, transport expenses, and ultimately retail food prices.

“We must take advantage of this brief period before the upcoming harvest and planting season. Farmers need all the assistance they could get to plant and provide food for communities,” Manalo said. The group warned that failure to act decisively could push millions of Filipino families deeper into hunger and poverty, echoing past global food crises driven by spikes in oil and fertilizer prices.

The protest today is part of the Global Day of the Landless and the broader Protestang Bayan para sa buhay at kabuhayan. ###