Farmers’ and women’s groups protested in Mendiola in Manila on February 14 to call for the repeal of the Rice Liberalization Law (RLL), which was enacted on the same day in 2018. They denounced the liberalization of rice imports that further increased the price of rice, contrary to its promise to lower the price. The end of 2023 saw the “rice inflation” recorded at 19.6%, the highest in the past 14 years. Compared to 2022, rice increased by almost ₱10 per kilo last year. At the beginning of 2024, rice prices increased further by ₱1-₱2 per kilo. Meanwhile, farmgate prices of rice in the country further dropped.