Farmers question the claims of agricultural growth, the impact of financial aid to Marcos SONA
By Marron Joshua F. Mendoza
PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., the fifth Speaker of the National Assembly (SONA) on Monday was challenged by farmers regarding the growth rates and financial aid figures mentioned in his speech to Congress.
Leonardo Q. Montemayor, chairman of the Federation of Free Farmers and former secretary of agriculture, cited the decline in rice growth in the first half of 2026 and the decline in sugar production.
“Where do you get his data? Rice, the first quarter of 2026 showed negative growth (6%). Sugar is expected to decrease by 11%,” said Mr. Montemayor BusinessWorld for discussion.
In his speech, Mr. Marcos highlighted the increase in agricultural production from 2023 due to the great support of the management in the industry, improved infrastructure and irrigation, and increased levels of machinery, which improved the production of palay (unmilled rice), corn, sugar, pork and chicken.
The President commented on the Presidential Assistance to Farmers, Fishermen, and Families (PAFFF) to nearly two million farmers and fishermen to help them cope with rising fuel costs.
Mr. Montemayor said only P2,325 was given to farmers and fishermen, while public transportation workers received P5,000 each.
“The number of rice farmers is 3 million; fishermen are about 2 million, coconut farmers are 3 million, but the beneficiaries of PAFFF are only 2 million, so many rural producers do not receive support,” said Mr. Montemayor.
Jayson H. Cainglet, executive director of Samahang Industriia ng Agrikultura, called the PAFFF insufficient and delayed in many areas, saying that the level of support it provides does not match the challenges facing agriculture especially after the increase in fuel prices during the Persian Gulf conflict.
“Increasing fuel costs translate directly into higher costs of land preparation, irrigation, harvesting, drying, transportation, and fishing activities. Without strong and timely support, production costs will continue to rise while farm incomes remain stagnant,” said Mr. Cainglet told BusinessWorld via Viber.
The President also highlighted the efforts of the National Food Authority (NFA) to buy payment from farmers at prices lower than those offered by traders, and the rice program of P20 per kilo, which he said has provided more than 26,000 tons of rice to more than 2.5 million families across the country, with the aim of reaching 8 million families who need the president at the end of his term.
Mr. Cainglet questioned the NFA’s ability to buy palay.
He noted that the NFA can only buy less than 2% of the annual palay crop with a budget of about P9 billion. Most of the crop is acquired by private traders and millers who have a vested interest in importing rice, which reduces farmers’ bargaining power in setting farmgate prices.
“If the government is serious about protecting rice production and stabilizing farmgate prices, the NFA must be empowered financially to play an active role in the market,” said Mr. Cainglet told. BusinessWorld.
Mr. Cainglet called for a palay procurement budget of at least P50 billion to help the NFA “buy a much larger portion of domestic produce, provide farmers with a reliable buyer at fair prices, strengthen the rice reserve, and reduce overdependence on private market players.”
Regarding the coconut industry, Mr. Marcos mentioned the a plan to plant 18 million coconut trees, with the goal of planting 100 million trees by the end of his term. Mr. Montemayor said the 18 million tree claim should be verified and called the 100 million tree goal “absurd.”
Mr. Cainglet said he would have appreciated more clarification on the free trade negotiations with the European Union, Canada, and Chile, especially the proposals to reduce the tax on agricultural goods.
“Other tax reductions under the new Free Trade Agreements, without adequate protections for domestic producers, risk causing even more damage to Philippine agriculture. Free trade should not come at the expense of our farmers, fishermen, and national food security,” said Mr. Cainglet.
“Any agreement must ensure a level playing field, preserve the policy environment to support local producers, and strengthen – rather than weaken – our capacity to feed our people,” he added.
Mr. Cainglet praised the administration’s efforts to implement the P20 rice program, continue the distribution of land to the beneficiaries of agrarian reforms, and improve the post-harvest areas, and hoped that the subsidy for rice buyers would one day be filtered to the farmers.
