Research group IBON Foundation criticized the Marcos administration for prioritizing political optics over meaningful support for farmers and fisherfolk, saying government assistance programs remain inadequate amid rising production costs driven by oil price shocks and worsening impacts of Super El Niño.
In a statement, IBON said Malacañang’s flagship assistance programs benefit too few recipients and provide only minimal relief while giving President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. broad discretion over public funds.
The group cited the ₱10-billion Presidential Assistance for Farmers and Fisherfolk (PAFF), distributed in April 2026, which reached only around 4.17 million beneficiaries, or about 40% of the 10.44 million farmers, fisherfolk, and farm workers registered under the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture.
IBON said the one-time payout of ₱2,325 per beneficiary is insufficient to offset soaring farm input costs and household expenses. A 50-kilogram bag of urea fertilizer now costs ₱2,269, nearly equivalent to the cash aid, while rice farmers typically require six to 10 bags per hectare.
The group also said fertilizer discount vouchers worth about ₱3,400 per hectare fall far short of actual fertilizer expenses, noting that urea prices have risen 33% and di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) prices 21% since late February.
Fuel subsidies were likewise described as inadequate. Under the government program, 300,000 farmers, fisherfolk, and agricultural transport drivers are eligible for one-time assistance ranging from ₱2,000 to ₱5,000. IBON said fuel costs for agricultural production, fishing operations, and produce transport have climbed sharply following tensions in the Middle East.
Meanwhile, the Agri-Puhunan at Pantawid (APP) program offers loans rather than direct subsidies, with borrowers required to repay the assistance with interest. IBON said eligibility restrictions exclude many farmers and could push qualified beneficiaries deeper into debt.
The think tank also raised concerns over the expanded Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF), noting that half of its ₱30-billion annual allocation through 2031 is reserved for “Other Priority Programs, Activities and Projects” subject to presidential approval.
IBON warned that such discretionary funds could be vulnerable to political patronage as the 2028 elections approach.
The group added that despite government claims of strengthening agricultural supply, crop production fell 5% in the first half of 2026 from a year earlier, while fisheries output declined 6.7%, contributing to continued food price pressures.
IBON said the administration’s assistance measures amount to “token support” that fails to address the structural problems facing the agriculture sector, arguing that deeper reforms and substantial investments are needed to strengthen domestic food production and rural livelihoods.# (ZIA LUNA)
