The Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) slammed the Marcos Jr. administration’s Php50-per-kilo price cap on imported rice as a cruel April Fools’ joke that fails to address the real crisis in Philippine rice production.

While the government presents the policy as relief amid steadily rising rice prices driven by soaring oil costs and inflation, KMP reiterated that it is nothing more than a “band-aid solution” that deepens the country’s dependence on imports while abandoning local farmers and consumers.

“Price caps will never work as long as rice liberalization is in place and the rice cartel dominates rice importation and trading.” said KMP Chairperson Danilo Ramos. “Apat na taon nang niloloko ng rehimen ang taumbayan sa “murang bigas”, “benteng bigas” na mga pakulo ng Malakanyang. Palaging ginagawang pampabango ni Bongbong sa masa ang kunwaring “murang bigas” na sa totoo lang, napakalimitado at hindi natatamasa ng karamihan sa mga Pilipino.”

The group noted that the price cap applies only to imported rice, effectively privileging traders and importers while pushing down the value of locally produced palay. At a time when farmers are grappling with soaring input costs such as fertilizer, fuel, and seeds, this neoliberal measure also threatens to further erode already meager farmer incomes.

Prices of farm inputs continue to rise alongside shocking fuel prices. Based on KMP’s monitoring, as of the last week of March, retail prices of urea fertilizer have reached Php2,300 to Php2,800 per bag, forcing farmers to shell out an additional Php10,000 per hectare for palay production. Transport costs have more than doubled for farmers bringing their produce to trading posts and markets. “Saan makakarating ang Php2,325 na ipinangako ng DA para sa mga magsasaka, tapos sa Mayo pa ibibigay,” the group lamented.

KMP stressed that the government’s approval of a price cap on imported rice amid the ripple effects of rising oil prices on food costs exposes what it described as a reactive and short-sighted approach. “Like what we always say, the government cannot fix a food crisis by importing its way out of it,” Ramos added. “This policy exposes the government’s perennial failure to build a self-sufficient rice industry. Instead of supporting Filipino farmers, the government fully supports rice liberalization.”

“If a Php50-per-kilo rice is the government’s idea of relief, then it’s an April Fools’ joke with actual consequences. Hindi pa rin abot kaya ng Php50 kada kilo ng bigas. At sa pagtaas lalo ng presyo ng langis, tiyak na tataas din ang presyo ng bigas, pagkain at mga bilihin,” Ramos said. “Consumers are given false hope, farmers are pushed deeper into crisis, and Filipinos are left more vulnerable to price shocks.”

Conching Cruz, a mother of three and a farmer from Bulacan, said it seems the President is unaware of the real situation faced by farmers during this crisis. “Sana makita ni BBM ang kalagayan ng mamamayan, lalo na ng mga magsasaka. Hirap na hirap na kami kung paano pagkakasyahin ang kita. Napakarami nang gastusin, at tataas pa ang kuryente. Dahil sa matinding init, mas magastos ang pagtatanim. Baka dumating sa puntong hindi na namin kayanin at tumigil na lang kami sa pagtatanim.

“Kung may makapagtanim man, hirap naman itong madala sa palengke. Napakataas ng presyo ng gasolina at pamasahe, pero ang mga produkto namin ay hindi maibenta sa tamang presyo. Iniisip na lang namin na kung patuloy pang tataas ang mga bilihin, baka i-stock na lang namin ang ani.”

“Sa ngayon, dahil sa init, saging, kamoteng baging, at mais na lang ang nabubuhay. Dati, gumagastos kami ng P160 – P180 sa gasolina para sa water pump, pero ngayon umaabot na sa P500 pesos at pahirapan pang makabili. Wala pang nakakarating na ayuda sa amin. Sa TV lang namin nakikita, pero sa aktwal, wala,” she said in a video interview.

KMP reiterated that genuine solutions lie in strengthening local production, dismantling the rice cartel, and junking rice liberalization, alongside ensuring fair farmgate prices and delivering substantial state support to farmers. These are doable measures that the government continues to neglect in favor of import-dependent policies.

“Filipinos deserve genuinely affordable rice and not publicity stunts. Until the government puts Filipino farmers and local production first, every promise of ‘cheap rice’ will remain a bad joke at the people’s expense,” Ramos concluded. ###