EDITOR THINKS
The recent fast-tracking of the P6.32 trillion General Appropriations Act (GAA) has raised concerns about its implications for the 2025 midterm elections. With the legislature and executive seemingly collaborating to create an election-year war chest, it is vital to scrutinize the promises made by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. His current efforts to assure the public that he will meticulously review the 2025 budget, crafted by the bicameral committee tasked with reconciling House and Senate versions, warrant closer examination.
Throughout history, pivotal moments of political change, such as the fall of China's dynasties in 1912 and the rise of a hegemonic regime in 1921, or the seismic shifts in American politics when the Conservatives ousted long-dominant Liberals, have necessitated reviews of past commitments. These moments of upheaval are often accompanied by reflections on whether promises were upheld or broken.
Lost Opportunities
As we approach the second half of Marcos Jr.'s term, which began amid questions surrounding the vote-counting process on the evening of May 9, 2022, it is worth revisiting the opportunities missed to fulfill key campaign promises. Chief among them is his pledge to uplift the agricultural sector, a cornerstone of his electoral platform.
For the nation’s farming communities, which form a significant laboring constituency, little progress has been made. Meanwhile, a select group of influential rice importers has prospered, benefiting from policies and institutional frameworks reminiscent of the Marcos governance legacy. The promise of P20-per-kilo rice, a cornerstone of his campaign, has been shelved, replaced by efforts to stabilize prices around P45-P55 per kilo through state-subsidized imports. This strategy, however, risks further marginalizing domestic rice farmers, who must now compete with foreign imports backed by government funds.
Agricultural Disparities
The plight of local rice farmers reflects a broader failure to address systemic issues in the agricultural sector. When Marcos pledged to lower rice prices to P20 per kilo in 2020, it directly impacted millions of farmers and their families, who represent a substantial portion of the population. Yet, three years later, many of these communities are worse off, caught between rising input costs and dwindling government support.
Adding to the problem is the administration’s reliance on rice importation to meet its objectives. This policy not only undermines local farmers but also creates a fragile food security system dependent on external suppliers. As food prices climb, the poorest Filipinos, who spend a large share of their income on food, are hit hardest. Meanwhile, the structural challenges in agriculture—such as inadequate support for farmers and the dominance of powerful middlemen—remain unresolved.
Policy Missteps and Inflation
Under Marcos Jr.’s leadership, food inflation has surged, disproportionately affecting low-income households. In contrast to the 2.5% inflation rate during the final year of Duterte’s presidency, food inflation under Marcos has risen to over 6%. These figures underscore the administration’s failure to control costs while attempting to fulfill campaign promises.
Moreover, the president’s dual role as the Department of Agriculture’s head has yet to yield tangible improvements for the sector. Instead of empowering farmers and enhancing domestic productivity, the administration has relied on short-term measures, such as reducing tariffs on rice imports, which benefit traders and importers at the expense of local producers.
Food Security in Peril
This over-reliance on imports is transforming the demographics of the agricultural workforce. Younger generations are abandoning farming, leaving an aging population to tend the fields. As a result, the nation’s food security increasingly depends on foreign economies, exposing it to global market volatility.
From a governance standpoint, the administration’s focus should have been on strengthening the domestic agricultural sector. A robust rice farming system could have addressed food insecurity while boosting the livelihoods of millions of farmers. Yet, the policies enacted have only deepened the sector’s vulnerabilities, prioritizing short-term political gains over long-term stability.
Three years after taking office, Marcos Jr. has yet to deliver on his most significant campaign promise. While a P20-per-kilo price for rice remains a distant goal, it seems increasingly likely that any reduction will be achieved through artificial price controls and subsidies, further burdening taxpayers. Like the questionable 2025 GAA, which appears tailored to serve political ambitions rather than public welfare, the administration’s agricultural policies reflect a disturbing pattern of prioritizing power and profit over genuine economic development and food self-sufficiency.
