Farmers, fishers groups call for stronger support from gov’t

Photo from Pamalakaya

MANILA, Philippines – Farmers’ and fishers’ groups observing World Food Day on Wednesday pinned the blame of the country’s food insecurity to the government and called for stronger support for the agriculture sector and end reliance to importation.

World Food Day is celebrated every October 16, to mark the founding of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization.

Progressive agriculture groups Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), Amihan National Federation of Peasant Women and Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya), in statements on Wednesday,  urged President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr.  and the Department of Agriculture (DA) to bolster local food production.

“Marcos truly doesn’t care about people’s right to food. It’s clear he has no intention of developing the agriculture sector and supporting our farmers to produce food for our people because, from the start, he relies on importation,” Amihan Secretary-General Cathy Estavillo said in Filipino.

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed that the Philippines imported US$37 million more farm goods from April to June this year compared to the same period a year prior.

“We condemn the DA for its continued reliance on importation instead of bolstering local production by genuinely supporting farmers and fishers.” Pamalakaya Vice Chairperson Ronnel Arambulo said, also in Filipino.

“The President envisions that no Filipino will go hungry by 2027, but how will this be if the DA and the government’s programs always fail to lower rice prices? Marcos Jr.’s promise to lower rice prices to P20 per kilo will always be thorn in his chest,” the KMP, meantime, pointed out.

Food program and hunger stats

Last year, the Department of Social Work and Development rolled out food stamps as part of the “Walang Gutom (No Hunger) 2027” program.

Marcos declared it a government flagship project.

Lowering the price of rice to P20 per kilo was a key promise made by Marcos in his 2022 presidential campaign.

Only 4% of Filipinos believe the President kept his promise, according to a July 2024 Pulse Asia survey.

A recent Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey showed that 46% of Filipino families described themselves as “food-poor” and 17% as “food borderline.”

A previous SWS survey showed that more families reported experiencing involuntary hunger at least once, from 14.2 percent in March to 17.6 percent in July this year.

Additionally, a United Nations report said 51 million Filipinos experienced moderate to severe food insecurity from 2021 to 2023, the worst  in Southeast Asia.