Former Agrarian Reform Secretary Rafael Mariano, who is now chairman emeritus of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (Fiel photo by LYN RILLON / Philippine Daily Inquirer)
MANILA, Philippines— The Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) urged the Department of Agriculture (DA) to act on the continuous increase in food prices nationwide.
The groups noted that the prices of major food products — such as rice, vegetables, pork, chicken, and fish — had increased within the past few days, despite the statement of the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) that the inflation rate was on a downtrend.
“We see further worsening of the food crisis and food inflation in the coming months and not even the NEDA can cover up this reality,” former Agrarian Reform Secretary Rafael Mariano, who is chairman emeritus of KMP, said in a statement issued on Friday.
“It’s the DA that has the authority over the production of rice and other food and it also has the primary responsibility to make sure that there would be an affordable of rice and other food in the country. But what is the DA and its secretary doing.”
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. also stands in as the chief of the DA.
“DA’s theatrics and pro-importation policies are not working. President and Agri Secretary Marcos Jr. must show an ounce of genuine political will in resolving the rice and food crisis. After all, he was the one who promised to achieve the P20 per kilo of rice,” the KMP said in a statement..
The KMP also gave its support for the proposed Rice Industry Development Act (RIDA), House Bill No. 405, saying that would solve the rice shortage in the country.
“It’s the goal of RIDA to achieve food security that is based on self-sufficiency and self-reliance. This will be through supporting farmers, developing infrastructure, and implementing rules that will give protection to farms, farmers, and the whole industry. Along with these are the goals of developing the livelihood of the farmers and helping those submerged in poverty, providing them support in grain price, including them in making decisions, and eventually allowing them to lead in the facilities vital in production,” the KMP statement said in Filipino.
The bill was filed in 2018 by the Makabayan bloc under the leadership of the Anakpawis party-list and was refiled by the Gabriela party-list in 2022.