Pork import tariff cuts will lead to revenue losses

April 9, 2021

What’s up, pork? (Part Two)

March 19, 2021

FEATURES – The Duterte government can do a lot of things to recover domestic hog production, consumer capacity and the national economy. But it has just opted to cater to private profits, foreign pressures and whims of public officials. And they have just been hogging everything to themselves, as they have done during the pandemic lockdown and beyond.

What’s up, pork? (Part One)

March 19, 2021

FEATURES – Again, the Duterte government is proposing importation without careful consideration. A year of unscientific and irrational responses – that has been more fatal than the plague itself.

Severe food insecurity in Southeast Asia

October 18, 2020

“The Philippines should not have to be counted among the top countries with moderate to severe food insecurity and high levels of malnutrition as per the food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) had the government not abandoned and liberalized agriculture.” – Rosario Guzman, in The Role of Consumers in Agroecology forum

What the Rice Tariffication Law violates

April 10, 2019

The declared policy of the newly signed Republic Act (RA) 11203 or Rice Tariffication Law, now with issued implementing rules and regulations, is apparently to ensure food security. Ironically, it is the very same principle that the law puts at risk. Food security is a precondition for economic development. A hungry population is a weak, […]

Rice tariffication puts PH food security at risk—IBON

March 2, 2019

IBON Executive Editor Rosario Bella Guzman said that non-quota tariff rice importation undermines the food security principles of supply stability and affordability. She said that in face of world market volatility, a fluctuating peso-dollar exchange rate and impending El Nino, government should seek to stabilize prices and the economy. Government will soon release the implementing […]

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 […]

Four reasons why RCEP will be detrimental to Filipino farmers

May 16, 2017

​​The fight of Filipino peasants such as the farmworkers of Hacienda Luisita and Lapanday Foods Corporation for land, food, and justice, stands to be further undermined once the Philippine government fully accedes to the China-backed mega Free Trade Agreement (FTA) Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).   While the controversial Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) was seemingly put […]

Food producers poorer, hungry three years after Yolanda

December 10, 2016

  Despite about Php144 billion in funds, the Philippine government has barely delivered on the planned rehabilitation and reconstruction in Yolanda affected areas. The people are more vulnerable, poorer and hungry with uncertain livelihoods and security of tenure.  For most farming communities in Eastern Visayas, production has not recovered. “Many farmers are only able to […]