As President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. prepares for his third State of the Nation Address (SONA), Bicolanos are voicing their concerns over food security. 

Despite recent claims of progress in reducing agricultural product and food prices, many in the region feel these benefits have not trickled down to them.

In his second State of the Nation Address (SONA) in 2023, Marcos said there was a decrease in the prices of basic commodities such as rice, meat, fish, vegetables, and sugar.

"Sa mga nakalipas na buwan, nakita natin ang pagbaba ng presyo ng bilihin sa iba’t ibang mga sektor. Napatunayan natin na kayang maipababa ang presyo ng bigas, karne, isda, gulay, at asukal,” he said.

However, many Bicolanos express skepticism about the impact of these measures.

Janet Sultan, a vendor, said while some prices have decreased, many others remain high or fluctuate unpredictably.

“Si iba, nagbaba talaga… si ibang pigtitinda, talagang steady man giraray, pero kadaklan nagbaba,” she said.

Similarly, Elmer Sumayao, a local resident, pointed out that vegetable prices, in particular, have not seen significant drops, which continues to strain household budgets.

“Mahiling mo ang presyo kang mga gulayon, talagang dae man nagbabago baga, lalong sigeng mahal. Pag dae ka medyo  magtaga[higot] kang paha mo, talagang grabe ang pagmahal kang mga bilihin,” Sumayao said.

“Ang pagbaba, dae man steady ang pagmahal. Pirming fluctuating ang price,” Rowena Carullo, another vendor, added.

AGRICULTURE

Marcos, in his second SONA, has pledged to further support local farmers through initiatives like cash assistance, fertilizer vouchers, and hybrid seeds.

“Our aim is to boost our local agricultural production — through consolidation, modernization, mechanization, and improvement of value chains — augmented by timely and calibrated importation, as needed,” he said.

Genaro Tamon, a farmer, said while the Department of Agriculture (DA) has provided some assistance, including hybrid rice seeds and fertilizer, the support is not always sufficient to cover the costs of farming.

He suggested that more substantial subsidies are needed to ensure that farmers can sustain their operations and maintain affordable rice prices.

“Bilang paraoma, dae na kuta magtuga si PBBM kang P20 per kilo kan bagas ta dae man talaga an aabuton. Lugi ang farmer diyan. Kung igwa siyang dakulang pondong makukuanan na ma-subsidize an presyo kan palay, pwede garo,” Tamon said.

IMPORT

DA Bicol reports that the region is currently 109 percent rice-sufficient, indicating that local production is sufficient to meet demand. However, the department acknowledges that competition from imported rice can undermine local farmers.

“Sa ibang bansa, mas mababa ‘yung production cost, like sa bigas. Kaya nadedehado ‘yung local farmers kapag maraming import, kapag maraming kakompetensya,” Lovella Guarin, an information officer at the DA Bicol, said.

According to DA Bicol, food security is defined by availability, accessibility, affordability, safety, and nutrition of food. 

Despite efforts to improve these factors, the National Nutrition Council reports that 10.5% of children are still stunted, largely due to inadequate nutrition or infections.

Authorities said that there is indeed progress, however, in order for it to be impactful, there is a need for continued efforts to achieve food security.

 “Hindi naman siya malayo. Kumbaga, ‘yung sunod-sunod nating efforts, we build on it; and make a strong foundation on it para lahat ng efforts natin ay makarating talaga sa kadulo-dulohan ng society, ng ating community,” Atty. Genevieve Velicaria-Geuvarra, DA Assistant Secretary, said.

“So, I would say na base doon sa datos na iyan at kung ano ang nakikita sa baba, at a fact na 1/3 of Filipinos are suffering from food insecurity, maaaring towards that na tayo na gusto nating ma-attain ang food security,” Arlene Reario from the National Nutrition Council Bicol said.

As Marcos prepares for his third SONA, there is a growing debate about whether the government's promises align with the realities faced by ordinary Filipinos.