By Perfecto T. Raymundo, Jr.
QUEZON CITY — Nueva Ecija farmers on Tuesday (Oct. 7) urged President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. to set a P20 floor price for fresh palay (unhusked rice).
In a press conference in Kenny Rogers Restaurant, farmers under the Nagkakaisang Magsasakang Novo Ecijano (NAMANE) said that they have gathered almost 15,000 signatures in their petition calling on President Marcos to set the P20 floor price for unhusked rice amid what they describe as a deepening crisis for rice farmers caused by the government’s failure to act decisively and traders’ continued exploitation.
The petition cites the soaring costs of seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, fuel, and land preparation as major reasons farmers are pushed into deeper debt year in and year out.
Farmers from the Utak Magsasaka Novo Ecijano (UMANE) also joined the petition.
Cathy Estavillo, Amihan Secretary General and Bantay Bigas Spokesperson, said that since the enactment into law of RA 11203, or Rice Liberalization Law since six years ago, the price of rice has been decreasing.
“Patunay na hindi solusyon ang Rice Liberalization Law maging ang Executive Order No. 62, at nitong huli, ang Executive Order No. 93 na import ban simula Setyembre 1, ay puro pambobola lamang sa mga magsasaka at mamamayan,” Estavillo said.
“Hindi rin solusyon ang mumong ibinibigay nilang P7,000 cash aid para pahupain ang galit ng mga magsasaka, she added.
Crisostomo Marzan, NAMANE Spokesperson, said “Hindi na talaga namin kaya ang ganitong kalagayan. Lampas P14 na ang puhunan namin sa bawat kio ng palay pero binibili lang sa P10 o P11. Lugi na bago pa man maani.”
“Kaya hinihiling namin na agad magtakda ng P20 floor price para sa sariwang palay – – ito ang katanggap-tanggap na presyo para mabuhay ang mga magsasaka,” Marzan added.
Rafael “Paeng” Mariano, of Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), said that the Rice Liberalization Law or RA 11203 is already six years old, which was amended by RA 12078 or the Rice Tariffication Law.
Mariano added that the P27 billion foregone revenues from the importation of rice under Executive Order No. 62 should have been used to benefit 12 to 13 million farmers.
He stressed that Executive Order No. 93 which set the rice importation ban starting Sept. 1, 2025 wherein there were also rice importation.
Mariano pointed out that the Philippines which has a population of 115 million is the no. 1 importer rice in the world.
“The quantitative importation of rice was also gone,” he said.
“With the repeal of the Rice Liberalization Law, there should be an increase in the production of rice,” he added.
Mariano is also pushing for the passage into law of House Bill No. 578, or the Rice Industry Development Act (RIDA).
The Nagkakaisang Magsasaka ng Malolos (NMM) represented by *Ka Narsing” said that the rice cartel is monopolizing the price of rice in the country.
Ka Narsing added that they are calling for the immediate repeal of the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL).
The farmers said that they were forced to sell at rock-bottom prices long before government aid reached them.
KMP’s latest monitoring shows palay (unhusked rice) prices are now at P7 to P11 per kilo across Luzon, especially in rice producing provinces like Nueva Ecija, Isabela, Pangasinan, and Cagayan Valley, and as low as P6–P9 per kilo in typhoon-hit Masbate, a severe blow to farmers already burdened by high costs, debts, and low incomes.
The KMP said that this exposes the government’s ongoing failure to protect rice farmers and the local rice industry.
Bantay Bigas, KMP, and local farmer leaders presented updated monitoring data on palay prices and share testimonies from affected communities. They reiterated their demands:
— A P20/kg floor price and higher buying price for palay;
— NFA procurement directly from farmers;
— Expanded post-harvest facilities such as dryers and storage; and
— A reversal of liberalization and import-dependent policies destroying the local rice production.
Last July, Nueva Ecija rice farmers submitted to Malacañang a petition with over 15,000 signatures calling for a P20/kg palay floor price.
The same petition was forwarded to the House Committee on Agriculture and Food in August.
However, they have not received a response from the goverment. ###
