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Women farmers in Laguna, reeling from floods that destroyed their rice fields and left them with losses of up to P20,000 ($340) per hectare, are demanding calamity compensation and higher palay prices, as their crops are not covered by insurance and government rice policies continue to draw criticism.
“The 60-day rice import ban is just for show. While the public is being made to believe that something is being done for the farmers, the Rice Liberalization Law, one of the root causes of the decline in farmers’ income and the rising price of rice, remains in effect. It must be immediately repealed."
Based on monitoring by the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) has reached only 14 percent of its target beneficiaries for distribution of Certificate of Condonation with Release of Mortgage (COCROM), covering six percent of total registered farmers.
"The Marcos Jr. administration is clinging to a failed and anti-farmer policy of rice importation. It is time to repeal the Rice Liberalization Law, break up the rice trading monopoly, and implement a genuine program for food self-sufficiency."
Under the SPLIT project funded by the World Bank, no actual new land distribution takes place. Former Agrarian Reform Secretary Rafael Mariano said that there are still more than 500,000 hectares of agricultural land undistributed.
“The rice crisis has worsened since the Rice Liberalization was implemented, and Senator Kiko knows this as well."
“Despite a slight increase in local yield, it is still vastly overshadowed by massive importation. This is the result of the unrestrained opening of the market to imported rice in the name of neoliberal policies," said KMP Chairperson Danilo Ramos.
“This is not just electoral fraud. This is political identity theft on a national scale."
In Negros, agricultural lands are being converted to make way for a city project, palm oil plantation and solar farms, threatening local farmers’ livelihood.
PAMALAKAYA cited the proposed 50-meter no-sail zone around each wind turbine as a major concern, warning that it would severely restrict access to traditional fishing areas.
For the Indigenous Peoples of the Philippines, this report is not just documentation—it’s a renewed call for justice, accountability, and survival.
"Low inflation means nothing if food prices remain sky-high and wages are still insufficient."
"This happens every year—once harvest season comes, prices crash. Farmers can no longer recover their investment. Now, they can’t even sell their produce; they’re forced to give tomatoes away or throw them out. There must be immediate compensation for the farmers who have suffered losses."
Human rights groups expressed alarm on reports of aerial strafing in indigenous peoples communities in Pola, Oriental Mindoro.
“Once again, the DA has shown where its loyalties lie—not with our struggling farmers but with big traders and importers who benefit from these policies. Importing onions at this time will push down farm gate prices, leaving our farmers in deeper debt and losses,”
“This is a blatant deception and exploitation of the people, especially during a time of soaring rice prices and an ongoing food crisis.”
“During that time, I was a daughter. Now, I'm a mother. However, the truth is, there is still no justice for the 13 martyrs. There is still no genuine land reform up to now. We continue to march to the streets to urge a department to implement genuine land reform,” Miriam Villanueva said in Filipino.
Tartaria residents and supporters defended their community but were met with violence, with Jarton guards forcibly entering the outpost erected by locals and burning it down.
Nearly 20 years in the making, their application for CADT remains uncertain. Current Molbog indigenous leaders said that ten of their elders have already died waiting in vain.
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