CLARK FREEPORT — Rice stakeholders have joined forces in a last ditch move to prevent the passage of the Rice Tariffication Bill now awaiting Pres. Duterte’s signature.
They have launched the Ugnayan ng Lahat ng Inagawan ng Murang Bigas (Unli Rice) composed of representatives from farmers, scientists, academe, church, government, and urban poor.
“UnliRice aims to forward the demands of different rice stakeholders and engage the local and national government to address the worsening rice crisis and ensure affordable rice and food for Filipinos,” said UnliRice coordinator Eddie Billones.
This, as rice watch group Bantay Bigas spokesperson Cathy Estavillo said “this effort to gather and unite various groups is an expression of the strong desire of the Filipino farmers and consumers to put an end to the government’s dependency on importation and agricultural liberalization.”
“Now that Duterte is set to sign the Rice Tariffication Bill, there is a greater need to unite and reject the bill that will bring about ‘unli-rice crisis’ and food insecurity to the country,” she added.
Estavillo said Rice Tariffication “should be one of the top agenda of politicians running for office this mid-term election. Their stand on rice tariffication and measures addressing rice woes will determine their sincerity in advancing the welfare of farmers and consumers and if they deserve the votes of the people.”
On the other hand, the women’s group Amihan said “that landlessness and lack of government support in agriculture are the core issues behind the worsening rice crisis in the country.”
Amihan chairperson Zenaida Soriano said, “As long as the Duterte government fails to implement a genuine agrarian reform program and choose to prioritize its fascist attacks against the peasantry, rice crisis and food insecurity will persist.”
The groups urged the public to organize alliance groups and unite against Duterte’s rice tariffication and other neoliberal policies and forward the people’s demand for free land distribution, sufficient agricultural support and accessible, safe and affordable food.
