A peasant group warned that nationwide hunger and food insecurity could worsen following the continuous oil price hikes in the Philippines.
Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), in a press statement on Monday, March 14, said that more Filipinos could go hungry as a result of the nonstop price hikes in the country.
“When prices soar, it is always the poorest who pay the dearest. Now, even farmers cannot afford to buy food due to a lack of income. More Filipinos will go hungry,” said KMP Chairperson Danilo Ramos.
“Whatever farmers make from farming and selling their produce is far from enough to cover the increasing cost of living and cost of farming. Dahil sa napakamahal na presyo ng abono at langis, marami ang hindi makapagtanim. May epekto ito sa seguridad ng pagkain sa bansa (Due to the high price of fertilizer and oil, many farmers cannot plant. This has an impact on the country’s food security),” Ramos furthered.
The peasant group previously called on President Rodrigo Duterte to issue an Executive Order (EO) directing the temporary removal of excise tax and value-added tax (VAT) on major oil products.
This immediate action, according to KMP, could immediately lower the prices of oil and give a “much-needed economic relief” to Filipinos who have been affected by the price hikes.
The group also reiterated its call on the provision of a P15,000 production subsidy and P10,000 cash aid for farmers amid the big-time oil price hikes.