Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas
Farmers group Kilusang Magbubukid ng Magbubukid ng Pilipinas said the P41 to P45 per kilo of regular-milled and well-milled is still unaffordable for consumers to bear especially with the steadily rising cost of commodities due to the weekly oil price hikes. “Dapat talagang maibaba ang presyo ng bigas dahil hindi na katanggap-tanggap sa masa ang nakapamahal na presyo nito.”
KMP reiterated that the price of regular milled rice (RMR) could still be pulled down to P37 per kilo as the rice supply being sold in retailers is supplied from the previous palay harvest bought at P16 to P20 per kilo at the farmgate. Ordinary consumers often buy regular milled rice varieties as they are cheaper compared to well-milled and imported rice.
KMP’s Danilo Ramos said, “Ang ibinebentang bigas ngayon ay mula pa sa palay sa nakaraang anihan nung Abril-Mayo at binili sa mas mababang presyo mula sa mga magsaaka. Kaya nagtataka kami kung bakit sumirit ng napakataas sa P50 at lampas pa ang kada kilo ng bigas nitong mga nagdaang linggo.”
The group also called on the public to remain vigilant on the rice issue that directly affects consumers of the country’s main staple. “We must continue asserting our right to food. The rice issue is political as much as it is a major economic concern. It was Marcos Jr. who duped the masses through his promise to lower rice prices to P20 per kilo. He is repeating the same rhetoric with the issuance of EO 39.”
Ramos also asserted that unscrupulous traders are taking advantage of the situation to rake in super profits from rice trading, supply hoarding, and price manipulation. He added that the government’s successive raids of rice warehouses would be only for show if nobody will be punished and brought before the law. “Nariyan pa rin ang kartel sa bigas. Napakatagal na nilang namamayagpag dahil mayroong mga protektor mula mismo sa gobyerno. Ang mga sindikato at kartel sa bigas ang dapat hulihin at parusahan at hindi ang maliliit na retailers at nagtitinda ng bigas,” the KMP leader said as he suggested that Congress and Senate invite to an urgent probe DA Undersecretaries Leocadio Sebastian and Domingo Panganiban.
The group further said that strengthening the local rice production is a more viable and long-term solution to the perennial rice problem. “To strengthen local rice production, we must preserve and protect rice lands from land-use conversion, and pull down farming costs by lowering the cost of seeds, fertilizer, fuel, and post-harvest expenses. At the same time, significant agricultural subsidies are necessary.”
KMP reiterated its demand for the repeal of RA 11203 or the Rice Liberalization Law that brought further menace to the local rice industry. “President and DA Secretary Marcos Jr. willfully continued Duterte’s Rice Liberalization Law that is slowly but surely killing the domestic rice industry, rice farmers, and consumers.”
KMP, Amihan, and Pamalakaya members today led “selfie protests” in farming and fishing communities as they called for lower rice prices, production subsidies, and the junking of the rice liberalization policy. ###
