I’m not a farmer, economist, or policymaker. Just someone trying to make sense of why, in a country that eats rice every day, we still can’t seem to get rice policy right. Every week brings a new bill, a new press release, a new promise: import bans, tariff hikes, farmer protection laws, NFA reforms. They all sound urgent. They all claim to help. But look closer—and it feels more like a circus of distraction rather than a roadmap to real reform.
Meanwhile, the farmers—those who actually grow our rice—continue to lose money on every harvest. They’ve been asking for the same things for years: a fair price, protection from imports, actual support from government.
They’re not confused. They’re just being ignored.
And I’m starting to wonder that if this isn’t a failure of leadership—it’s leadership serving the wrong people.
Because when the noise is this loud, when the bills pile this high, and the problems still don’t go away, maybe it’s not about solving anything at all.
Maybe it’s about stalling just long enough… for the usual winners to keep winning.
EndNotes
- Farmers group slams DA plan to halt rice imports, raise tariffs
Inquirer.net, August 5, 2025 https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2091692/farmers-group-slams-da-plan-to-halt-rice-imports-raise-tariffs This article outlines farmer groups’ criticism of the government’s plan to temporarily suspend rice imports and raise tariffs, describing the move as reactive and poorly timed. - KMP: Repeal rice liberalization law now Kodao.org, August 2, 2025 https://kodao.org/kmp-renews-demand-for-repeal-of-rice-liberalization-law-as-palay-farmgate-prices-drop-to-p8-kilo The Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas renews calls to repeal RA 11203 as farmgate prices collapse, exposing the vulnerability of farmers under the liberalized import regime.
- DA chief presses amendment of RTL, warns ‘grim future’ for rice farming Department of Agriculture, June 2025 https://www.da.gov.ph/da-chief-presses-amendment-of-rtl-warns-grim-future-for-rice-farming The Agriculture Secretary admits flaws in the Rice Tariffication Law and pushes for targeted amendments, yet stops short of backing a full repeal.
- Rice Tariffication Law amendments up for plenary debate in Senate GMA News Online, July 2025 https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/917211/rice-tariffication-law-amendments-senate-plenary The Senate opens plenary debates on bills to amend the RTL, including proposals to restore the NFA’s procurement role.
- Speaker Romualdez backs NFA reform to stabilize palay prices DA Press Release, June 2025 https://www.da.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Clippings-for-June-24-2025.pdf The Speaker expresses support for reviving the National Food Authority’s market intervention powers as part of proposed reforms.
- IRDF calls for ₱25/kg palay price floor BusinessWorld, July 27, 2025 https://www.bworldonline.com/economy/2025/07/27/687840/rural-devt-ngo-backs-law-setting-palay-farmgate-floor-at-p25-per-kiloA rural development NGO supports legislated price protection for farmers, highlighting the inadequacy of current market-based mechanisms.
