Farmers criticize Marcos admin over delayed P20kg rice program

Agricultural groups Kilusang Mambukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) and Amihan National Federation of Peasant Women criticized the postponed rollout of the P20/kg rice program, calling it unsustainable and a 'grand deception'.

Farmers' groups on Sunday accused the Marcos administration of peddling false hope to millions suffering from high rice prices, branding President Ferdinand's promise as propaganda.

Danilo Ramos, chairperson of KMP, stated that the postponement reveals the government’s inability and lack of intention to lower rice prices, blaming the Rice Liberalization Law for worsening the situation.

Farmers argue that policies like the Rice Liberalization Law have led to lower farm gate prices but not reduced consumer rice prices, with many farmers seeing their incomes drop as imported rice flooded local markets.

Kilusang Mambukid ng Pilipinas and Amihan reiterated their call for genuine agrarian reform and local production support instead of importation, emphasizing the need to focus on domestic rice production to address hunger.

Both groups are calling for the repeal of the Rice Liberalization Law and the implementation of genuine agrarian reform to rebuild the domestic rice industry and achieve real food security.