As the country marks National Rice Awareness Month this November, Senator Imee R. Marcos sounded the alarm on what she described as the “grim reality” faced by Filipino farmers, asking whether the occasion is a celebration of awareness or a “continuation of Halloween.”

“Dati ang sigaw ng mga magsasaka sa akin: ‘Patulong naman po sa pagbenta ng palay!’ Ngayon, ang hinaing na nila ay: ‘Tulong po sa pagbebenta ng lupa!’ Now their plea is: ‘Please help us sell our land!’ Because no matter how hard they try, they still end up losing,” Marcos said.

("In the past, farmers used to tell me: ‘Please help us sell our palay (unmilled rice)!’")

The senator pointed to what she called the ineffective implementation of the amended Agricultural Tariffication Act, which she co-authored and was passed in December last year. Marcos claimed that the current setup of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund primarily benefits middlemen and traders, leaving small farmers struggling to survive.

“Kailangang amyendahan ulit ‘yan dahil ang mga middlemen at traders lang ang nakikinabang sa RCEF! Ang kailangan ng ating mga magsasaka ay direktang tulong, hindi kung anu-anong proyekto!,” she said, calling for reforms that would directly aid farmers.

("That law needs to be amended again because only the middlemen and traders are benefiting from the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund! What our farmers need is direct assistance, not all sorts of projects!")

Marcos also reiterated her call for the establishment of a Minimum Wage for Farmers, saying that regular and fair compensation is crucial to sustaining agricultural livelihoods.

“Kailangan nating tingnang mabuti ang aking isinusulong na Minimum Wage for Farmers dahil naniniwala akong ito ang tunay na kailangan ng ating mga magsasaka,” she added.

("We must take a close look at the Minimum Wage for Farmers bill I am proposing because I truly believe this is what our farmers really need.")

National Rice Awareness Month, observed every November, seeks to promote rice conservation, sustainability, and appreciation for Filipino farmers, but for Marcos, it has also become a reminder of the sector’s persistent challenges.