Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan raised concerns over the proposed importation of American rice, stressing that the government should instead prioritize lowering domestic rice production costs to make the staple more affordable for consumers while protecting the livelihood of Filipino farmers.
The senator and chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food, and Agrarian Reform said that the potentially higher acquisition and transport costs of importing American rice must be heavily scrutinized because of its possible impact on the domestic rice market.
“Bakit tayo kukuha ng bigas mula sa Amerika kung mas mataas ang gastos sa pagpapadala nito? Sino ba ang makikinabang dito at sino na naman ang sasalo ng gastos? Mga mamimili na naman? Kung hindi naman makikinabang ang ating mga kababayan, eh bakit doon pa sa Amerika tayo kukuha ng imported na bigas?” he asked.
The lawmaker, who will lead the budget hearing for the Department of Agriculture (DA) and its attached agencies next week, stressed that expanding the country’s sources of imported rice should not take precedence over addressing longstanding problems confronting local rice producers, such as high production costs.
The issue stems from a memorandum of understanding between the Philippine Rice Industry Stakeholders Movement (PRISM) and USA Rice, targeting purchases of 100,000 metric tons in 2027 and 200,000 metric tons annually beginning in 2028.
The import plan aims to bridge the country’s production shortfall, maintaining supply to prevent food insecurity.
“Hindi pa sapat ang ating produksyon para sa pangangailangan ng buong bansa, kaya kailangan pa rin nating mag-angkat. Ngunit habang pinupunan natin ang kakulangan, dapat mas tutukan ng gobyerno ang pagpapababa ng gastos sa pagtatanim, pag-aani, pagpapatuyo at paggiling ng sarili nating palay,” he said.
“Kapag mas mababa ang gastos ng magsasaka sa bawat kilo ng palay, mas malaki ang maaaring maiuwi niyang kita. Kapag mas mahusay din ang pagpapatuyo, paggiling at pagdadala sa merkado, mas kaya nating maghatid ng abot-kayang bigas sa mamimili.”
Pangilinan stressed that consumers should not be made to bear the burden of higher rice prices. Instead, he said the government must prioritize strengthening domestic rice production and lowering production costs to ensure a more affordable and sustainable supply of rice.
He urged the government to accelerate investments in reliable irrigation, quality seeds, appropriate farm machinery, affordable credit, and accessible drying, storage, and milling facilities. He also called for stronger farmer cooperatives, practical technical assistance, and measures to reduce postharvest losses and unnecessary transport costs.
Furthermore, the senator pushed for stronger implementation of the Sagip Saka Act to help farmers’ organizations access markets, including direct government purchases, and retain more of the value of their produce.
Sagip Saka is the lawmaker’s landmark 2019 law that allows the national government agencies and local government units to buy food directly from farmers and fisherfolk without public bidding.
While Sagip Saka addresses the demand side of the agricultural sector, Pangilinan stressed the need to complement it with measures that strengthen the supply side.
He underscored the importance of passing two key proposals pending in Congress: the strengthening of agricultural cooperatives and the renationalization of agricultural extension services to provide farmers with better access to technical assistance, knowledge, and support.
“Hindi dapat magsasaka ang sumalo ng lahat ng sakripisyo para lamang bumaba ang presyo ng bigas. Ang kailangan ay bawasan ang gastos at pagkalugi sa buong supply chain upang parehong makinabang ang nagtatanim at ang bumibili,” he said.
“Ang pangmatagalang layunin natin: may sapat na kita ang magsasaka at may abot-kayang bigas ang bawat pamilya. Dito dapat nakatuon ang pondo, programa, at pagkilos ng gobyerno,” the senator added.