As the country marked Farmworker Appreciation Day, Senator Imee R. Marcos issued a strong call for genuine reforms to address what she described as the long-standing crisis in the agricultural sector.

In a statement Friday, Marcos lamented that farmers continue to be honored in name only but remain neglected in actual government priorities.

Despite symbolic celebrations, Marcos stressed that Filipino farmers continue to suffer from low incomes, rising debt, and worsening living conditions—issues that have persisted for decades.

Central to her appeal is the need for a farmgate floor price for rice and other agricultural products, rather than relying solely on Suggested Retail Prices (SRPs) that benefit retailers but leave producers shortchanged.

“Paano makakabawi ang magsasaka kung binibili ang palay nila ng P15 kada kilo, pero ang gastos nila ay higit pa roon? (How can farmers recover when palay is being bought at P15 per kilo, while their production costs are even higher than that?),” she asked.

“Panahon na para tayo ay magkaroon ng sariling ‘farm bill’ na may tunay na proteksyon sa presyo at kita ng ating mga bayani sa bukid (It’s time we pass our own version of a ‘farm bill’—one that truly protects farmgate prices and ensures income for our heroes in the fields),” she added.

Marcos also pointed out that the lack of adequate post-harvest facilities, such as drying pavements, leads to massive crop losses.

According to her, up to 23% of harvested rice is lost during post-harvest processes, with farmers forced to dry their grains on roads where they get contaminated or crushed.

“Dahil wala tayong maayos na post-harvest support, sayang ang ani ng magsasaka—nadudurog, nadudumihan, nasasayang (Without proper post-harvest support, farmers lose their harvest—spoiled, dirty, and wasted),” she added.

Marcos likewise lamented the deepening hardships faced by many farmworkers, citing growing debt, loss of income, and reports of rising suicide rates among farmers.

“Masakit man isipin, pero may mga magsasaka tayong pinipiling wakasan na lang ang buhay dahil wala na silang ibang maibenta kundi ang sarili nilang pag-asa (As painful as it is to admit, some of our farmers are choosing to end their lives because they have nothing left to sell—not even hope),” she said.

“Sa araw na ito ng pagkilala sa kanila, sana’y huwag natin silang kalimutan sa mga panukala, pondo, at prayoridad ng ating pamahalaan (On this day of recognizing them, let us not forget them in our laws, budgets, and national priorities),” she added.

Marcos urged the government to match words with meaningful action, saying farmers deserve not just symbolic appreciation but real protection and sustained investment.