Research group IBON scored the Marcos Jr administration for putting political optics over evidence-based policymaking, and focusing on the appearance of government action rather than substantially addressing the problems of millions of farmers and fisherfolk. Amid the ongoing oil price shock driving up production costs and a worsening Super El Ni\u00f1o damaging crops and livelihoods, government aid remains a pittance compared to the scale of their needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Malaca\u00f1ang\u2019s hyped-up programs benefit too few, provide too little, and allow President Marcos to wield substantial public funds at his discretion, said IBON.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The group noted that the discretionary Php10 billion Presidential Assistance for Farmers and Fisherfolk (PAFF), distributed in April 2026, targeted only around 40% or 4.17 million out of 10.44 million <\/a>farmer, fisherfolk and farm workers registered in the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n The one-time Php2,325 dole-out per beneficiary is hardly enough to cover soaring production costs and living expenses. For instance, a 50-kg bag of Urea fertilizer now costs Php2,269<\/a>, leaving a rice farmer barely enough for one bag when 6-10 bags are needed per hectare. The assistance also amounts to less than two days of the Php1,277 national average family living wage for a family of five to meet their basic needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fertilizer discount vouchers are similarly inadequate at only around Php3,400 per hectare, according to IBON estimates using Department of Agriculture (DA) data. The average prices of commonly used fertilizers have surged. From February 23-27<\/a>, before the US attack on Iran, to October 19-23<\/a>, the average price of urea rose by 33%, from Php1,712 to Php2,269, while di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) increased by 21%, from Php2,660 to Php3,213. This has increased average fertilizer costs per hectare to Php13,614 and Php19,278 for a minimum of 6 bags, which is far bigger than the fertilizer discounts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fuel assistance<\/a> is just as meager. Only 300,000 farmers, fisherfolk and truck drivers delivering agricultural produce will receive one-time fuel subsidies of Php5,000 for farmers and fisherfolk and Php2,000 for drivers. Yet since the US attacks in the Middle East began, fuel expenses have risen<\/a> by 40% to at least Php3,693 for palay production, by 40% to over Php4,718 for the 30 liters of diesel needed for one fishing trip, and by 50% to Php8,000 for a 2-tonner truck transporting vegetables from Benguet to Manila.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Agri-Puhunan at Pantawid<\/em><\/a> (APP), meanwhile, offers loans\u2014not subsidies or grants. Eligible farmers can borrow up to Php28,000 per hectare for up to seven hectares to cover production costs, plus Php32,000 for living expenses between planting and harvest. But the loans carry a 2% annual interest rate and must be repaid within 180 days or every harvest season. Strict eligibility requirements, including RSBSA registration and not having any outstanding loans, exclude many farmers. Those who qualify risk sinking deeper into debt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n IBON also pointed out that while Republic Act No. 12078 extended the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) until 2031 and increased its annual budget to from Php10 billion to Php30 billion, half of the allocation (Php15 billion) is earmarked for \u201cOther Priority Programs, Activities and Projects\u201d again subject to presidential approval. With the 2028 elections approaching, such discretionary funds are vulnerable to political patronage rather than being directed transparently to farmers\u2019 needs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Consumers will be affected as well. The Marcos administration has played up its supposed agricultural supply-side responses since March 2026. Yet despite these, the volume of crop production in the first semester actually fell by 5% from the same period last year, and of fisheries production by 6.7% over the same period. These contribute to rising food prices nationwide. <\/p>\n\n\n\n IBON said that the government\u2019s token assistance exposes its disregard for the plight of farmers and fisherfolk. Rather than undertake bold measures that could provide urgent substantial support to producers and over the long term strengthen domestic agriculture and Filipino industries, the Marcos administration continues to offer stopgap dole-outs and debt that do little to address mounting hardships. The deep-rooted agricultural crisis has only worsened<\/a> under Marcos Jr.<\/p>",
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