In time for the celebration of Peasant Day, Gabriela Women’s partylist renewed its call for the prioritization of legislative measures that will “develop” the rice industry and alleviate the suffering of “poverty-stricken” agricultural workers in the Philippines.
Among these demands include the immediate passage of House Bill 406 which seeks to provide a P15,000 subsidy for Filipino farmers and fisherfolk, House Bill 1161 or the Genuine Agrarian Reform Bill, and House Bill 405 also called the Rice Industry Development Act. Aside from this, the women’s party likewise stressed the need to repeal the Rice Tariffication Law in order to stop the “unli-importation” of rice.
“Baon na baon na sa utang ang mga magsasaka dahil sa tumataas na presyo ng fertilizer, abono, hagupit ng Rice Tariffication Law, mahal na presyo ng langis, at sunod-sunod na bagyo (Farmers are deep in debt due to rising prices of fertilizers, the impact of Rice Tariffication Law, expensive oil prices, and a series of tropical cyclones),” said Gabriela Women’s Party Secretary General KJ Catequista on Friday, Oct. 21.
Spearheaded by peasant group Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), a national action for land, food, and justice was held on Friday, Oct. 21.