A national farmers’ alliance has launched a sharp protest against the government, criticizing its response to national hunger and demanding immediate subsidies and a significant increase in the farm-gate price of rice, even as the nation marks an official “day of food.”
The protest from the PKMM (People’s Voters) group, led by farmer-representative Jhun Pascua, highlights a stark contrast between government ceremonies and the dire reality for agricultural producers. The demonstration coincided with the National Assembly of the People’s Voters’ approval of a food provision program for the province starting June 1.
Core Demands: Price Increase and Subsidies, Not Weapons
At the heart of the protest are two primary demands. First, the PKMM is calling for a fundamental shift in government spending, urging officials to re-allocate funds from military weapons to agricultural subsidies.
“We are the opposite of other countries,” stated Pascua. “Here in the Philippines, there is always no food… Our call is simple. Instead of using the weapons of war, these funds [should] be used as a subsidy to our farmers.”
Second, the group is demanding a concrete increase in the farm-gate price of rice, the country’s staple food. They argue that the current price is unsustainable and pushes farmers deeper into poverty.
“Our call is very simple: to make the price of rice from P17 to P21,” Pascua explained. He emphasized that this increase is essential for farmer livelihood, stating, “the success and achievement of increasing the price of rice, increases our income.” He contrasted this with the current price of palay (unmilled rice), which he said has plummeted to just P8 to P9 per kilo.
A Clash of Narratives on Food Security
The PKMM’s protest creates a direct narrative conflict with the government’s activities on the “day of food.” While the government presents its accomplishments in feeding the poor, the farmers argue these measures are superficial and fail to address the root causes of poverty in the agricultural sector.
“Farmers used to have one crop, one crop, but now, every single crop, there is no crop left,” Pascua lamented, depicting a cycle of deepening debt and despair. He expressed frustration that their peaceful calls for “a continuous reduction in the hunger and poverty” of their sector are repeatedly ignored each year.
The group’s placards, prominently featuring rice instead of wheat, symbolize their core message: the struggle for “food sovereignty” should be the nation’s top priority, not military expansion.
The National Assembly of the People’s Voters, a national organization, designated June 1 as a day for food provision initiatives across the province. The PKMM, representing the farmer sector within this assembly, used the occasion to voice their dissent, stating that government actions do not translate to tangible benefits for food producers. The conflict underscores the ongoing national debate over agricultural policy, poverty alleviation, and budget allocation in the Philippines.#
