Statement of the General Assembly of the PNFSP on the State of Food Insecurity in the Philippines to Commission of Human Rights (CHR)

Hunger continues to plague millions of Filipinos. The numbers speak for themselves: in March 2025, hunger incidence surged to 27.2%, up from 21.2% in February—the highest level recorded since the pandemic. These are not mere statistics; they represent millions of lives in crisis—families going to bed hungry, children robbed of their future, and communities trapped in a cycle of poverty and despair.

This food crisis is rooted in systemic injustice: chronic joblessness, starvation wages, rising inflation, and the liberalization of agricultural markets that have devastated local producers. One glaring example is the Rice Liberalization Law, which has crippled our farmers by driving down farmgate prices while making affordable rice even more inaccessible to the poor.

Palay Farmgate Prices (2025):

• Nueva Ecija: ₱7.00/kg

• Cagayan: ₱12.00/kg

• Bicol: ₱7.00–₱12.00/kg

  
  

Cost of Palay Production (per hectare):

• Average yield: 58 bags/ha (50 kg per bag) = 2,900 kg/ha

• Average price of palay: ₱12/kg

• Gross sales: 2,900 kg x ₱12 = ₱34,800/ha

• Cost of production: ₱45,700/ha

• Net income: –₱10,900/ha

  
  

This means that Filipino farmers, instead of earning a living, are sinking deeper into debt.

Even more alarming is the plight of sugar workers in Negros Island, who endure slave-like wages and persistent job insecurity:

• Average weekly income: ₱800–₱1,200 ($16–$24)

• For a family of five, this translates to only ₱22.85–₱34.29 per day per member ($0.46–$0.68/day)

• 97% of workers are trapped under the exploitative “pakyaw” (piece-rate) wage system

Alongside this, civil society organization (CSO) workers who dedicate their lives to serving rural communities continue to face harassment, intimidation, and various forms of human rights violations.

A major obstacle to resolving the cases of food insecurity and hunger is the government’s lack of attention and indifference toward those suffering from these conditions. This stems from the absence of explicit recognition of the right to food in Philippine law. Because this right is not formally enshrined in the Philippine Constitution or other binding statutes, the government is not legally compelled to fulfill it, giving them the discretion to disregard the issue.

This legal gap must be urgently addressed, especially since the Philippines is a state party to international treaties such as the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), which explicitly recognizes the right to adequate food. Without aligning domestic laws with these international obligations, demands for government accountability in addressing food insecurity risk falling on deaf ears.

Policy Recommendations:

1. Constitutional Recognition of the Right to Food – Amend the Philippine Constitution to explicitly recognize food as a fundamental human right.

2. Passage of a National Right to Food Law – Enact a comprehensive framework law that obliges the government to guarantee food security, ensure access to nutritious food, and protect local food producers.

3. Institutional Accountability Mechanisms – Establish an independent commission or strengthen existing institutions to monitor compliance with the right to food and provide remedies for violations.

4. Support for Small Farmers and Food Producers – Implement protectionist and pro-people agricultural policies, including subsidies, farmgate price support, and safeguards against unfair trade liberalization.

5. Inclusive National Food Security Strategy – Develop a participatory national plan involving farmers, fisherfolk, workers, and civil society organizations in crafting sustainable and equitable food policies.

   
   

Through these measures can the Philippines transform its international commitments into enforceable domestic policies and ensure that every Filipino enjoys the fundamental right to adequate food.

We bring these urgent cases before the Commission on Human Rights with the hope that the widespread violations of the right to food, the right to livelihood, and the right to human dignity will be thoroughly investigated, addressed, and given the just resolution they deserve.

PNFSP Members