Former Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol has appealed to Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno Domagoso to help struggling rice farmers, whose farmgate prices have plunged to as low as P8 to P10 per kilo amid a glut of imported rice.

During a courtesy meeting with the mayor, Piñol presented the worsening situation, stating that Filipino rice farmers are “crying and losing money.” He explained that small farmers and cooperatives are struggling to sell their harvests due to market oversupply and low buying prices set by traders.

“Our rice farmers are crying. Trader prices are eight to 10 pesos per kilo. The farmer is losing money,” Piñol said. He cited that many can no longer recover their capital and are being forced to borrow at steep interest rates.

Piñol cited the case of Danilo Bolos, a Nueva Ecija farmer and former overseas Filipino worker who is now a top rice producer, harvesting up to 17 metric tons per hectare — triple the national average.

Despite his success, Bolos recently told lawmakers that even the most hardworking farmers are struggling to survive due to high production costs and expensive inputs.