Press Release
November 17, 2019

Govt must act ASAP to compensate farmers for P61.77-billion losses due to flood of rice imports: Pangilinan

"The wife of a farmer in Nueva Ecija that my staff interviewed in August now works as a domestic helper in Metro Manila. Imagine the hardship and sacrifice she endures -- a mother who left her children to care for themselves so she could augment the further-reduced family income caused by the flood of rice imports.

Ang problema ng magsasaka ay problema ng pamilya. Solusyunan natin itong paglubog ng kita ng magsasaka bilang isang pamilyang Pilipino.

Since August, when we have anticipated the misery that would befall our farmers, we have proposed immediate government response. Now, three months hence, news reports are validating our calculations: farmers have lost at least P61.77 billion due to the continuous drop in farmgate price of palay.

Dapat apurahin na ng pamahalaan ang pagpapatupad ng mga solusyon para sa nasalanta ng batas.

Farmers must begin receiving cash compensation now to reimburse them for what they have already lost. This money will not only help them -- and consequently help us rice consumers -- continue farming, but in fact just survive.

The crucial matter is that the government must act now. Sa kalagayan ng mga nagpapakain sa atin, akmang-akma ang kasabihang, "Aanhin pa ang damo kung patay na ang kabayo."

As we call for cash compensation, we repeat our demand to review the Rice Tariffication Act leading to its repeal or suspension, until government has actually done its duty to prepare them for global competition."

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