Amidst the worsening food security crisis, farmers across Mindanao clamored for genuine agrarian reform, highlighting the need for the agricultural sector to be more self-sufficient rather than dependent on international imports.
Magsasaka at Siyentipiko para sa Pag-unlad ng Agrikultura (MASIPAG) Mindanao National Secretariat Information Officer Eliseo Ruzol slammed the current agricultural system as an elitist structure that prioritizes corporate interests over small-scale farmers.
“Undemocratic [ito] dahil sila sila lang naman yung nagde-decide; dahil very top-down yung approach na ginagawa. Dahil nakatingin sila sa kita ng malalaking traders, malalaking millers, mga exporter at hindi doon sa mga maliliit na magsasaka.”
Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas Chairperson Danilo Ramos further attested that the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL) is not the answer to the country’s prominent crisis in rice shortage.
“Hindi lang mga rice farmers ang naapektuhan, kung hindi ang buong industriya ng bigas. Kabilang na [rito] ang mga traders, mga maliliit na millers, ang mga nagtr-trabaho rito…”
The law was passed in 2019, implementing a tariff system that aims to lower the prices of rice imports, but was later criticized due to its negative effect on the farmers.
Davao Today reported that the implementation of RTL affected an estimated 2.7 million farmers by losing 70-80 billion pesos after only a year of its enactment.
Dependence on international imports
MASIPAG Mindanao Regional Director Leo XL Fuentes further discussed how the liberation of rice only created more void in the sector, unable to provide benefits for the farmers.
“In 2018, 86.2 percent ta rice-sufficient pero pag-abot og 2022,77% nalang. Buot pasabot, dependence ang iyahang gicreate.”
Fuentes criticized the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF), which was established under Republic Act (RA) No. 11203, an act liberalizing the importation, exportation, and trading of rice from other countries.
“Naging dahilan ang RCEF na umasa muli ang mga magsasaka sa hybrid na binhi at kemikal na input sa pagsasaka,” Fuentes further pointed out.
Decline of local rice production
Fuentes said that the structural disadvantages Filipino farmers face, particularly the high cost of land rentals, prevent them from competing on an international production scale.
“Kung wala’y yuta, mas gamay ang kita… Around 25% sa rice expenses sa production kay madulong sa rental. Maong dili ta makacompete, especially Vietnam; kay sa Vietnam, libre ang yuta.”
Former National Coordinator of Philippine Sustainable Agriculture Coalition and Konsensya Dabaw Convener Mags Maglana warned that the government may push for further agricultural liberalization instead of addressing systemic issues as the production of rice declines and prices soar.
“Nagkagamay ang production, mas nagkamahal. If that happens, muingon na sad ang gobyerno na ipadayun nalang ang liberalization in agriculture; dili nalang ta magtanom kay mag-angkat nalang ta.”
Agricultural land alienation
Maglana further emphasized the broader implications of land alienation and its impact on indigenous communities.
“Kung panag-iyahan ni sa mga langyaw… kinsa man ang pwede mapahawa? Mga mag-uuma og indigenous people– dili lang ang lumad sa Mindanao kundi ang uban pang IP [Indigenous People] sa laing part sa nasud.”
Maglana discussed the possible repercussions of the 14. 2 million alienable hectares in the country, sharing how, despite the land reform efforts, land monopoly still continues to prevail.
“Displacement… Pwede mabag-o ang land use; mosamot na mogamay ang luna sa agrikultura. Posibleng musamot ang land-grabbing og katong atong giingon nga land reconcentration. Tinuod naa’y land reform efforts pero dali ra kaayo mabalik ang pagpanag-iya sa monopolyo sa yuta. All of these things will further affect production.”
Ruzol supported this statement by revealing that numerous agricultural hectares were subjected to land conversion, illustrating its role in the increase of production cost.
“200,000 hectares ang nawalang sakahan natin just because famers can no longer plant. Farming is no longer a seductive job for the next generation… Ang lalaki ng mga agriculturals na cinconvert into malls, to commercial buildings. Pababa nang pababa ang hectarage, pataas ng pataas ang cost of production.”
MASIPAG advocate and farmer from North Cotabato Jerry Ruylan emphasized that land remains the backbone of Philippine agriculture, making genuine land reform a crucial step toward food security and economic stability.
“Ang yuta kinabuhi sa mag-uuma, labi na tinubdan sa pagkaon sa iyang pamilya. Ang yuta mao [ang] tinugban sa kinabuhi sa tibuok nasud para mabuhi og mahimong malig-on ang atoang nasud sa hisgutanang ekonomikanhong agrikultura.”
Masipag Mindanao, collaborated with Konsensya Dabaw, Sentrong APILA, Ateneo de Davao University – University Community Engagement and Advocacy Council (ADDU – UCEAC), and Rolbak Network, in organizing “Bigas Lang Ang Nagmamahal: A Regional forum on Food Security Emergency,” to mark the 6th anniversary of RTL.
The event was held on February 14, 2025 at the VPHE Workroom, 7th floor, CCFC Building, Ateneo de Davao University.