Farmers from Nueva Ecija, joined by KMP Chair Emeritus and former Anakpawis Rep. Rafael “Ka Paeng” Mariano and Bantay Bigas spokesperson Cathy Estavillo, held a dialogue with House Speaker Faustino Dy and House Committee on Agriculture and Food Chairperson Mark Enverga to press for urgent measures addressing the rice crisis. The dialogue took place last October 7, a day after Dy announced the inclusion of P7M cash aid to help farmers recover from palay price plunge losses.
Mariano reiterated farmers’ calls to repeal the Rice Liberalization Law (RLL) and replace it with the proposed Rice Industry Development Act (RIDA), as well as to include agricultural disaster compensation in the 2026 national budget. Farmers from Nagkakaisang Magsasaka Novo Ecijano (NAMANE), Utak Magsasaka Novo Ecijano (UMANE) and Liga ng Manggagawang Bukid raised grievances over the collapse of palay prices and lack of government support, while farm workers demanded livelihood, aid, and machinery.
Across Luzon, palay farmgate prices have plummeted to P6–P10 per kilo for wet palay and P13–P14 for dried harvests. In Nueva Ecija, most farmers sold their crops at rock-bottom prices before the government’s so-called “emergency procurement” took effect—an effort KMP called “too late and too little.”
“The Marcos Jr. government continues to rely on stop-gap measures instead of genuine solutions,” said Mariano. “P7,000 cash aid is mere limos. It cannot undo years of losses under rice liberalization.”
KMP slammed the continued flood of imported rice despite EO 93, noting that 427,000 MT entered the country in September alone, totaling 3.6 million MT for 2025. Mariano called the import suspension “a scam,” saying the administration’s “P20 rice caravans only deodorize corruption while farmers sink deeper into poverty.”
Farmers reiterated their key demands:
> Repeal of the Rice Liberalization Law;
> Immediate deliberation and enactment of RIDA;
> Institutionalized P20/kg and higher farm-gate price for palay; and
> Sufficient production subsidies and post-harvest support
> Strengthened government palay procurement
“The Rice Liberalization Law is a death sentence for rice farmers,” Mariano said. “It must be repealed and replaced with a law that strengthens local rice production and ensures farmers’ dignity and survival.” #
