A fertilizer crisis unfolds

April 27, 2026

Are we headed to the inevitability of food insecurity or famine from a war that is not of our own making but brings the heaviest toll on us? More expensive fuel and fertilizer should not be a threat if only the Philippine government protects the domestic economy, local food production, and the direct food producers—the farmers and fisherfolk.

Beyond rice price populism

September 5, 2023

The standalone rice price caps will not just be ultimately ineffective but might even backfire

Agriculture deserves a competent leader

July 1, 2023

The Marcos Jr administration has not been looking at the stark reality of long-term agricultural decline. This chronic crisis deserves a full-time, competent and diligent leader.

“Build, Better, More” for agriculture? Not really

June 16, 2023

FEATURES

The Marcos Jr administration has apparently taken over the reins of the agriculture department at a time of severe food and agriculture crisis, but without much inspiration.

IBON Executive Director on the Department of Agriculture’s National Food Security Summit

May 18, 2021

Food import dependency, agricultural trade deficits, hunger and rural poverty have worsened under the Duterte administration.

Its Food Security Summit will be a sham if it doesn’t start by admitting that its neoliberal policies are to blame most of all.

Rice tariffication will displace rice farmers, worsen food insecurity–IBON

November 22, 2018

Rice tariffication and uncontrolled rice imports will displace rice farmers and worsen food insecurity without solving the problem of expensive rice, research group IBON said. The government is using high inflation to justify rice sector liberalization according to long-standing demands of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and big foreign agricultural exporters. Domestic agriculture should be […]

Further imperiling Philippine rice

October 29, 2018

The government’s accelerated move to impose rice tariffs and lift quantitative restrictions on rice imports is touted to ease inflation. It comes with a heavy price in the long-term, however, as it puts in peril the livelihood of millions of Filipino rice farmers. Amid runaway inflation triggered by its regressive tax reform program, the Duterte […]

PH Economy Duterteriorating | Crisis in Agriculture

October 16, 2018

#WorldHungerDay #UpholdPeopleEconomics Agricultural growth today falls far behind estimated population growth of 1.6% in 2018 and is well below the 7-decade historical average of 3.0% since 1948. The agricultural slowdown is also reflected in massive job losses in the sector. The Duterte administration only gives lip service to improving agricultural productivity amid this severe crisis […]

Govt anti-inflation measures inadequate and anti-agriculture

October 2, 2018

Research group IBON said that the Duterte administration’s anti-inflation measures are reckless stop-gap measures that will ironically harm domestic agriculture, displace farmers and fisherfolk, and worsen food insecurity. The group also said that the government should use its vast authority to take much more decisive steps to reduce inflation. President Duterte issued Administrative Order (AO) […]