Home Equality & Justice Philippines’ food security emergency falls short, say peasant groups

Philippines’ food security emergency falls short, say peasant groups

The Department of Agriculture’s (DA) declaration of a food security emergency has drawn sharp criticism from farmers’ groups, who argue that the measure fails to address the root causes of the ongoing rice crisis in the Philippines. 

The Amihan National Federation of Peasant Women and rice watchdog group Bantay Bigas condemned the move, saying it does little to ease the burden on consumers and local rice producers.

“Marcos and the DA’s food security emergency is just a short-term, showcase. Releasing buffer stock from NFA warehouses isn’t a sustainable solution and remains out of reach for many Filipinos. The Rice Liberalization Law’s failure is clear, especially after the NFA’s mandate was removed,” said Cathy Estavillo, Secretary General of Amihan and Spokesperson for Bantay Bigas.



The DA’s announcement, issued under Department Circular No. 3, was prompted by what it described as an “extraordinary” spike in rice prices. 

DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. defended the decision, emphasizing that the move aims to stabilize prices. 

“This emergency declaration allows us to release rice buffer stocks held by the National Food Authority (NFA) to stabilize prices and ensure that rice, a staple food for millions of Filipinos, remains accessible to consumers,” he said.

Despite this, critics remain unconvinced. Estavillo dismissed government initiatives like Kadiwa and Nutri rice, arguing that they fail to offer a real solution. “These programs offer no real solution to the rice crisis,” she asserted.

- Newsletter -

Under the declaration, the NFA will sell rice stocks at PHP36 per kilogram through Kadiwa ng Pangulo (KNP) sites and to local government units (LGUs), government agencies, and government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs). 

However, Estavillo believes this will have little impact on market prices. “Instead of lowering prices, they offered a suggested retail price for imported rice at PHP58 (US$1) per kilo,” she said.

Rice inflation remains a pressing concern, with figures from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showing it reached 4.2 percent in December 2024, surpassing the Marcos administration’s 4 percent food inflation target. It peaked at 17.9 percent in September 2023.

The Philippines remains heavily reliant on rice imports. In 2024, the country imported 4.68 million metric tons of rice, and projections from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) indicate imports will rise to 5.22 million metric tons in 2025, solidifying its position as the world’s largest rice importer.

Amihan and Bantay Bigas are calling for the repeal of the Rice Liberalization Law and urgent agricultural reforms. 

“It’s been six years since the Rice Liberalization Law was passed, and its impact on farmers and consumers has been disastrous,” Estavillo said. 

The groups are holding President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and the DA accountable, pushing for a nationalized agricultural policy that prioritizes local food production and protects the livelihoods of farmers and consumers.

The food security emergency will remain in effect until lifted by the DA chief, with price review mechanisms set every four months. 

© Copyright LiCAS.news. All rights reserved. Republication of this article without express permission from LiCAS.news is strictly prohibited. For republication rights, please contact us at: [email protected]

Support Our Mission

We work tirelessly each day to tell the stories of those living on the fringe of society in Asia and how the Church in all its forms - be it lay, religious or priests - carries out its mission to support those in need, the neglected and the voiceless.
We need your help to continue our work each day. Make a difference and donate today.

Latest