‘We feed the nation, yet our farms are dying’: Cordillera farmers dump rotten vegetables at gov’t offices in protest

MANILA, Philippines – “Farmers and gardeners feed the nation, but who takes care of them?”

This was the message of Cordillera vegetable farmers who staged two days of protests in Metro Manila on November 10 and 11, dumping rotten and unsold produce and throwing mud outside government offices to demand fair prices, protection of ancestral and agricultural lands, and adequate government support.

Led by the Kanatengan Network, the farmers submitted petitions bearing thousands of signatures to the Department of Agriculture (DA) and members of the House of Representatives, seeking concrete measures to address the worsening agricultural crisis.

Farmers from Benguet, Mountain Province, and neighboring provinces said rising costs of fertilizers, seeds, pesticides, fuel, and transportation, coupled with low farmgate prices, have made it increasingly difficult to recover their production expenses. Many are forced to borrow money to keep their farms operating, further deepening their debt.

Petitions reach DA, Congress

On November 10, farmers dumped rotten and unsold vegetables outside the DA central office in Quezon City to protest what they described as the government's failure to address their worsening situation.

They called for fair floor prices based on actual production costs and reasonable returns, affordable farm inputs, sufficient subsidies, improved farm-to-market roads, and stronger measures against agricultural smuggling and excessive importation.

They also demanded action against “usurious lending and excessive land rental costs that deepen farmers’ indebtedness and threaten their livelihoods.”

While some farmers staged the protest outside, others submitted their petitions to the department and lawmakers.

The concerns were also raised with Representatives Maximo Dalog Jr., Sarah Elago, Antonio Tinio, Eric Go Yap, and Mark Enverga, as well as Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito.

In the afternoon, the farmers joined students at the University of the Philippines Diliman for the “Lupang Ninuno, Hindi Giyera!” forum, which linked development projects threatening ancestral lands and natural resources to the campaign for sustainable agriculture and just prices.

Farmers challenge DENR, NCIP

On the second day, the farmers staged a symbolic mud-throwing protest outside the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), expressing opposition to the exploitation of ancestral lands and natural resources.

They condemned destructive development projects, mining, and resource extraction in ancestral territories, saying these threaten indigenous communities and their sources of livelihood.

The groups also reiterated their opposition to the Pax Silica initiative, citing its potential adverse effects on indigenous territories and mineral resources, particularly those affecting Ayta communities.

The protest also reached the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), where the organizers called on the agency to uphold its mandate to protect ancestral lands, indigenous rights, and self-determination.

The two-day mobilization ended with a meeting with staff of Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, where the farmers discussed stronger coordination with DA-Cordillera to ensure that they fully benefit from existing agricultural programs and laws.

The organizers said their campaign goes beyond securing better prices for vegetables. It also seeks to protect farmers' livelihoods and ancestral territories, as well as the Cordillera's role as a major food supplier to markets across the country.

“The mobilization also upholds farmers' democratic rights to organize, raise grievances, and demand government accountability without fear of harassment, intimidation, and red-tagging,” the organizers said.

“Farmers and gardeners feed the nation, but who takes care of them?... Farmers need fair prices, affordable production inputs, accessible markets, and genuine government support, not mere promises and temporary relief,” they added.