Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) led the mobilization to call for a wage hike, food security, and junk the Rice Liberalization Law (RLL) in time for its 4th anniversary held at the Department of Agriculture on February 14.
Referred to as RLL by critics, the Republic Act No. 11203 or Rice Tariffication Law (RTL) replaced the quantitative restrictions on imported rice with tariffs of 35% on ASEAN imports and 40% on non-ASEAN imports.
RTL promised to support farmers and improve the country’s rice production; however, it further burdened the local farmers and consumers instead. KMP chairperson Danilo Ramos highlighted the damage it caused in the past four years since its implementation.
“Lugmok sa hirap ang mga magsasaka dahil sa nabanggit na batas. Bagsak ang presyo ng palay, otso pesos kada kilo. Noong unang taon nito, dose, 15 pesos ang pinakamahal ready to mill pero ang bigas ay nananatiling mataas. 39 to 40 pesos ang well-milled rice. ‘Yung mga premium rice, mahigit 50 pesos per kilo. Naghirap ang magsasaka, naghirap ang konsumer,” Ramos said.
Rice Industry Development Act
As groups asserted to strengthen local food production and dismiss importation, they also pushed to implement the pro-farmer House Bill 405 or the Rice Industry Development Act.
Accordingly, the bill seeks to prioritize improving local food production and giving farmers benefits, including subsidies on agricultural production and building post-harvest facilities.
“Malakas po naming panawagan, palakasin ang lokal na produksyon ng pagkain, hindi importasyon ng bigas, ng sugar, asin, gulay, sibuyas, at iba pa. Tingin namin napakahalaga na ipatupad ang tunay na reporma sa lupa at pambansang industriyalisasyon, pagpapaunlad ng agrikultura ng ating bayan,” Ramos stressed.
Demand for DA sec to step down
Hitting the record-high inflation and continuous neglect of farmers’ demands mirrored President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos’ incompetence as the agriculture secretary. The groups pressed for the president to step down as Filipinos deserve a competent secretary to aid the prevailing crisis in the agriculture sector.
“Ang linya ni Pangulong BBM ay puro angkat kaya Department of Agriculture ay Department of Angkat. Malakas pong panawagan ng KMP, ng mamamayang Pilipino, tama na, sobra na, dapat ng magresign si Ferdinand Marcos Jr. bilang kagawaran,” Ramos said.
“Hindi po siya capable. Ang kailangan po na secretary ng Department of Agriculture ay may puso, nagmamalasakit sa magsasaka, iniintindi po ang ating pagkain. Hindi biyahe nang biyahe, nagliliwaliw, at ang pangulong laki sa layaw,” he continued.
 led the mobilization to call for a wage hike, food security, and junk the Rice Liberalization Law (RLL) in time for its 4th anniversary held at the Department of Agriculture on February 14. ){kind=link}