[0:00] A very good morning to all of you from Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao, across the Philippines, and to all corners of the world where our fellow Filipinos are.
[0:14] Come join us as we gather once again for our program, Unang Sigaw sa Magandang Umaga
[0:26] Friends, the staple food of Filipinos is rice. But where does it come from?
[0:33] Why is the price of rice such a big issue for our citizens, to the point that even the National Government is working hard to provide it at ₱20 per kilo?
[0:45] Is it possible? Yes, the current administration is indeed trying to make it happen.
[0:59] Across the country, citizens are beginning to benefit from the government’s efforts.
[1:04] But the truth is, not all our people are yet benefiting. Only certain areas, right?
[1:15] How long will the government be able to implement this? This is what we’ll discuss at the center of “The First Call to a Good Morning.”
[1:20] I am Ka Welmer Miranda Estrada. Good morning to you all. Today is Friday, July 18, 2025.
[1:34] A very good morning to Sir June Castro, Kagawad Randy Manalili Manalang, and Brother Orly Fine Manabat.
[1:45] Friends, rice is the product of the hard work of our farmers. No matter how challenging planting is, they still persevere.
[1:57] According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the capital that farmers need to invest per hectare of farmland reached ₱47,039.
[2:15] This was back in 2020, friends, and it already includes preparations.
[2:22] What does this include? Irrigation, seedling preparation, planting, field maintenance—like what you see on our screen—fertilizer spraying, and pesticides to control pests.
[2:41] From planting to harvest, the period can last up to 105 days, depending on the growing season.
[2:53] Friends, this data we’re discussing is from 2020.
[2:59] By 2023, the capital per hectare increased further to ₱55,814.
[3:08] Why the increase? It’s due to inflation and the rising cost of agricultural products that farmers need to start planting.
[3:25] So in 2023, the capital per hectare was about ₱55,000, friends. But currently, it has reached approximately ₱60,000.
[3:38] That’s a huge amount, right? According to Ate Michelle Velasco Aquino’s household and Mr. Jerry Ronquillo, a local farmer in Barangay Sapang Tagalog, the average harvest per hectare is only about 4 tons, or 4,000 kilos, which is equivalent to 800 sacks of rice at 5 kilos each.
[4:10] The National Food Authority (NFA) buys palay at ₱18 per kilo, friends. But last year, it reached ₱23 per kilo.
(4:23) Purchases are still limited, so some farmers are forced to sell their harvest to traders for only ten to eleven pesos per kilo.
(4:32) Otherwise, the rice might end up rotting or sprouting, making it useless for them.
(4:41) You see, if it stays too long in storage without being dried, that is exactly what happens.
(4:47) That is why they are often left with no choice, closing their eyes to the situation just to sell at only ten to eleven pesos, as our interviewee last night, Brother Jerry Ronquillo, told us.
(5:04) If we base it on the NFA’s purchase price of eighteen pesos, the total value will only amount to seventy-two thousand pesos, friends.
(5:16) This means that the amount left after covering their expenses is just about twelve thousand pesos.
(5:27) If you deduct their expenses of sixty thousand pesos—just think about that, friends.
(5:50) And if you divide that into four months, it turns out our farmers are earning only about four thousand pesos a month. Now we ask you, can that truly provide a decent living for the families of our farmers? That is their income after waiting nearly four months for their rice crops to grow.
(6:06) And what more if they are forced to sell to traders? As we mentioned earlier, the price is only ten to eleven pesos per kilo.
(6:19) That is the price—those are for the harvests that were not dried, friends. This is the heartbreaking reality of our farmers, who are often taken advantage of and underpaid by exploitative traders. In truth, the small amount left is not enough to provide their families with a decent living. That is why they strive to find other means of livelihood—such as, as Brother Jerry shared, raising livestock like ducks, goats, and others—just to sustain their families’ daily needs.
(6:58) What’s even more painful is that many of them end up in debt, burdened with high interest rates. This is the harsh reality faced by our farmers.
(7:10) Fewer and fewer people now wish to continue farming. And so, friends, many are left with no choice but to sell their farmlands, which buyers later convert into subdivisions.
(7:23) We have long been seeing the effects of this, haven’t we? So many subdivisions now stand on what used to be farmland.
(7:32) The country is running short on its rice supply, isn’t it, friends? There’s already a shortage! And that is because only a few farmlands are being cultivated. This is why we are now importing rice from other countries just to meet the needs of the Filipino people.
(7:50) And according to the news we have gathered, the government has once again allowed the importation of as much as eight hundred million tons of rice from abroad.
(8:01) Friends, the food grown by our local farmers is truly no longer enough.
(8:12) This has become yet another burden on them, as they now face even tighter competition in which, often, they end up on the losing side.
(8:23) How can they compete? How can they possibly stand against these giant companies, friends? At present, there are still many lands left.
(8:36) That’s true—we can see idle lands that could still be cultivated. But if this continues to be the situation of our farmers, who will still have the courage to take on this work?
(8:54) That is why many of the children, seeing the hardship their farmer-parents endure, say to themselves: ‘When I grow up, or once I finish school, I will rescue my parents from poverty—but I will not farm. Instead, I will look for a better livelihood so that I can help my parents differently.’
(9:05) This has become the mindset of many young people who witness firsthand the struggles of their parents in farming.
(9:26) Will we allow ourselves to become slaves to importation in the future, friends? Will we just let our farmland be turned entirely into housing subdivisions?
(9:42) How can this heartbreaking situation of our farmers be lifted? Is there truly no hope of finding a solution, friends? Among the reasons cited for why Filipino farmers have such low yields
(10:10) compared to farmers abroad, farmers who, at one time, even studied here in the Philippines to learn how to improve agriculture. Do you still remember those friends? Back in the 1960s and so on,
(10:16) Farmers from China, Vietnam, and other parts of Southeast Asia came all the way here to the Philippines to learn the agricultural technology being practiced at the International Rice Research Institute—or IRRI, friends.
(10:39) They learned so much and applied it in their own countries. And because of that, their agriculture flourished, while today, we are the ones importing their harvests, friends. This is what has become of our country. Why are the yields of our farmers so poor? (11:05) Just think of it: at best, they can only produce eighty sacks of palay, each weighing fifty kilos, per hectare of land they till. (11:23) This only increases to more than a hundred sacks if they plant hybrid seeds. But then again, friends, the cost of hybrid seeds is also very expensive.
(11:38) That’s why they are left with no choice but to settle for the older, inbred seedlings, dear friends. Now, here are the factors affecting crop yield. These are based on what we gathered from our research.
(11:55) The number one factor that affects the low harvest of our farmers is the environmental problems tied to agriculture. Included here is the temperature.
(12:15) Because, friends, our plants each have their own specific temperature that needs to grow faster.
(12:24) And if this is neglected or disrupted, their growth and fruit-bearing will also affect dear friends.
(12:35) Adding to that, dear friends, is number two: pests. Pests and plant diseases are also among the heaviest challenges faced by our farmers.
(12:45) There are so many of them, and our farmers know this all too well. So, what do they usually do to fight against pests and diseases that damage their crops?
(12:58) That’s right, they buy pesticides, pest control products, dear friends, in hopes of saving the condition of their crops.
(13:11) But here’s the most serious issue, my friends, something that still has no real solution. According to scientists, the continuous and heavy use of these chemicals has led to another problem.
(13:35) Over time, the soil farmed by our farmers becomes too acidic. This is the result of nonstop use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers, without the balance of organic fertilizers. The tendency is that the soil gradually turns sour.
(13:52) And what does soil acidity mean? It also affects the growth and fruit-bearing of our crops, dear friends. Sadly, this issue is often neglected, isn’t it?
(14:07) That’s why we also need to find ways to bring our farmland back to its normal, healthy condition, my friends.
(14:17) Now, what other problems do we see? Well, water is not really a problem for our farmers right now, because it’s the rainy season, isn’t it, my friends? In fact, another storm is coming, so please stay safe, everyone.
(14:35) But when it comes to irrigation, that’s where the problem lies. Our irrigation systems in many parts of the country are not enough. Yes, there are a few areas here in the Philippines where water is not a major issue, but for most of our farmers, this remains a serious challenge.
(14:53) And what else, my friends? The lack of access to agricultural inputs.
(14:59) These are the needs of our farmers so that they can continue fulfilling their role, my friends.
(15:12) Let’s go through them one by one.
Our government is striving to address the needs of our farmers,
(15:20) such as the lack of agricultural inputs, right? Our government, our local governments—yes, our local governments, my friends—are making efforts to guide our farmers through the distribution of subsidies, such as seedlings, for example, certified seeds that our farmers need.
(15:49) And afterwards, they also provide subsidies for the purchase of fertilizers and pesticides, my friends.
(16:00) They are doing that, my friends, and there are also some local governments that no longer let the farmers bear the cost of these subsidies, but instead, they distribute them for free, my friends.
(16:13) The meaning of subsidy is that farmers only pay half of the normal market price of agricultural goods. However, since we are all aware of the difficult condition of our farmers
(16:32), Some local governments are already providing these completely free, and each one of us knows who these local governments are, my friends.
(16:41) But is this enough for our farmers to live a truly decent life? Not yet, because there are still missing factors, such as irrigation.
(16:55) From what we have learned here in our province of Tarlac, it seems that the completion of the Balog-Balog Dam will finally continue, my friends. Once that is finished, it will be a tremendous help to our farmers here, my friends.
(17:11) So let us pray that this will truly push through, and that our Lord God will use the right people who will dedicate themselves to these projects, my friends.
(17:27) Some distribute fuel so that it can be used for their irrigation machinery, right? Others also provide farm equipment. All of these, my friends, are also of great help to our farmers, so that their farming process may be faster compared to the conventional way of planting.
(17:56) Because nowadays, my friends, machinery is what drives farming.
(18:01) If you are not using machinery in farming and you still rely on traditional planting methods, you will really be left behind, my friends.
(18:12) That is the reality our farmers face today. These are the efforts being made by our government.
(18:19) But there is one thing we don’t really know if it’s being carried out—the restoration, my friends, the restoration of the former condition of the soil. Because the soil is very important. First, the soil, my friends, is the foundation of our crops.
(18:44) Our crops cannot survive without a solid foundation in the soil. But when the soil we plant is already full of chemicals that cause soil acidity, what kind of yield can we expect from our crops?
(19:03) Isn’t it true, my friends, that the crops will wither, my friends, they will be hindered, my friends? That’s why we need to find ways to restore the original condition of our farmlands, my friends.
(19:22) That, my friends, is the difference between us and other countries, where their soils are being enriched even more so that they become sustainable for their crops. The soil can then absorb the nutrients needed by the plants, helping them grow strong and produce abundant harvests, my friends.
(19:54) That is why there is such a wide gap between our harvest and theirs, because they have truly enriched their soil by fertilizing it with organic materials, my friends.
(20:13) Now, it’s not that chemical fertilizers should be completely removed, my friends. They are still needed, but little by little, they should be reduced and replaced with organic ones.
(20:19) In fact, there used to be many known producers of organic fertilizer made from coconuts, right, my friends? They would process it, my friends, and then sell it to the farmers.
(20:45) But farmers noticed that it worked too slowly. Yes, it really was slow, my friends. And you know how farmers are, my friends, they want to recover their investments quickly.
(20:58) And you can’t really blame them, my friends, because their capital is so huge.
(21:03) Can you imagine, friends, our farmers now need about 60,000 pesos just to be able to plant in a single hectare of land. How much more if that expands to one and a half or even two hectares, friends? Where will our farmers get that kind of funding?
(21:23) And so, because of this, to quickly recover their capital, many of them go back to the old way of planting rice, friends.
(21:36) The problem, however, is that if farming continues that way, the soil gradually deteriorates. The land becomes acidic until it can no longer be used. But thankfully, friends, there are solutions available. Right here before you, friends, is a type of chemical. But in truth, it’s organic. When mixed with a drum of water and sprayed directly onto the crops and the soil, it gradually restores fertility and makes our farmers’ lands healthy again, friends.
(22:21) And this works in a faster way, friends. But remember—do not immediately stop using synthetic fertilizers. Slowly reduce their use. Until such time comes when you won’t need them anymore, because the soil itself will already be rich enough to supply all the nutrients and strength that our crops will need.
(22:46) In that way, my friends, only then can we keep up with other countries where they harvest rice from a hectare of land that yields double compared to ours.
(23:06) Just think about it—80. That’s considered normal, my friends. If you calculate it, our farmers are only left with about 12,000 pesos in surplus. That’s the normal case. But if a typhoon hits, or if any calamity strikes, our farmers suffer greatly. That is why it’s about time that this issue was given proper attention by both our government and our farmers, because, my friends, if this is not resolved, this will continue to be the situation of our farmers.
(23:46) Loss after loss, my friends. Until the time comes when they finally give up or disappear entirely—our farmers—because their children are turning to different directions in life, choosing not to pursue agriculture anymore. That is why, my friends, we must be wise.
(24:10) Let us help our farmers, because if we don’t, friends, the time will come when all of us are affected. In fact, even now, we are already affected, aren’t we, friends? The price of every kilo of rice is so expensive.
(24:26) That’s the main food of every Filipino. If you think about it, friends, Filipinos can even eat without any viand, if there is rice, right? That’s why we should never give up on our farmers.
(24:47) If necessary, friends, we should find ways—even to the point of using the discoveries of our scientists. There’s nothing wrong with that, friends. What’s important is that the day will come when we achieve food sustainability. Now, what does food sustainability mean, friends?
(25:09) It means that the food produced by every Filipino farmer is enough to meet the total needs of the Filipino people. That’s what it means, friends. Now, what about food security? That goes even further.
(25:18) Food security means we produce more than enough—so much that the surplus can be exported to countries that also need rice.
(25:40) We are still very far from achieving those two goals. For us to catch up and reach that dream, friends, all the problems we have discussed must already be addressed, starting now.
(25:59) Meanwhile, friends, there’s some good news for our farmers. They reportedly posted higher earnings in 2024. Is that right, Brother Patrick? Let’s take a look, friends.
(26:19) Farmers posted increased income last year despite rising production costs—recall we mentioned a ₱60,000 capital per hectare. Meanwhile, the country also strengthened its buffer stock. This was reported by the Department of Agriculture yesterday. According to the Philippine Statistics Authority data, the average farmgate price per kilogram of palay (rice) rose to ₱23.48 in 2024, up from ₱19.88 in 2023.
(26:58) This increase resulted in a gross income of ₱95,906 per hectare and a net income of ₱36,211 per hectare, compared with ₱82,914 and ₱26,423, respectively, in 2023.
(27:22) This corresponds to a net profit-to-cost ratio of 0.61 per kilogram of palay sold, up from 0.47 in 2023 and 0.20 in 2022. In a pre-State of the Nation Address interview, DA Assistant Secretary Arnel Demesa said that the National Food Authority’s Price Range Scheme helped influence traders’ prices last year.
(27:57) Even though production declined due to El Niño, La Niña, and successive typhoons, farmers still received favorable prices. Notably, the NFA Council passed a resolution raising the Buying Price for dry and clean palay to ₱23–₱30 per kilo, while fresh and wet palay ranged from ₱17–₱23 per kilo.
(28:27) Before this adjustment, the NFA bought palay at ₱16–₱19 per kilo for wet and ₱19–₱23 per kilo for dry, respectively. Farmers’ earnings now exceeded last year’s higher production costs, which Demesa said were mainly driven by rising labor expenses. According to the PSA, the average production cost per kilo of palay increased to ₱14.52 in 2024 from ₱13.54 in 2023.
(29:12) Demesa explained that Filipino farmers have a cultural practice of paying harvest laborers in cash. Culturally, they follow a system called ikapu, where 9–10% of the total harvest is given to the harvester.
(29:43) The 10% share is valued using the average farmgate prices, which increased last year. So, in 2024, with palay at ₱23.48 per kilo, labor costs effectively rose, according to Demesa. He said they will study ways to address potential gaps in this cultural practice while continuing support for mechanization to further reduce production costs.
(30:27) The DA also supports House Bill No. 1, the proposed Rice Industry and Consumer Empowerment Act, which aims to restore the regulatory powers of the NFA.
(30:39) Currently, the NFA can only release rice stocks in response to calamities, in coordination with government agencies and local government units. Under the ₱20 per kilo rice program (“20 Bigas”), implemented through Food Terminal Inc. under the State of Food Security Emergency, rice is distributed to ensure action and support.
(31:08) Once enacted, the law would allow the NFA to intervene in the market again, protecting consumers from high retail prices by procuring rice from local farmers and selling it through accredited retail outlets at affordable rates.
(31:31) The proposed rice law could also set a floor price to protect local farmers from unscrupulous traders who exploit them during harvest with extremely low buying prices.
(31:49) Friends, on July 17, the Samahang Industria ng Agrikultura (SINAG) reported that palay in Nueva Ecija fell as low as ₱5 per kilo.
(32:06) Agriculture Secretary Francisco Chu Laurel Jr. instructed the NFA to investigate these areas for possible intervention. While some farmers reportedly profited, measured against their production costs, the reality is still far from adequate. Friends, this is the harsh reality our farmers face.
(32:40) We truly need to help our fellow citizens, our unsung heroes. Without them, what would we eat? Even if we have food, we still depend heavily on imports.
(33:04) In fact, the NFA plans to import 800,000 metric tons of rice. What does this mean? Our farmers’ harvest alone isn’t enough.
(33:22) These 800,000 metric tons will greatly support the livelihoods of our farmers.