Peasant and farmworker groups protested at the Department of Agriculture in Quezon City to mark the 7th anniversary of the enactment of the rice import liberalization law last February 13.

Rice imports rose from 2.57 million tons to over 5 million tons from 2019 to 2026. This drove down palay farmgate prices, from an average of ₱20 per kilo in 2018 to ₱14–₱16 per kilo in succeeding years. As a consequence, farmers suffered losses and were forced to reduce or stop rice production altogether, burying them deeper into debt because of rising costs of production and the absence of state support.

Anakpawis Partylist members also protested on February 10 in Quezon City to denounce the relentless oil price hikes and the collusion of the US-Marcos regime with the oil cartel.

Gasoline prices increased again by ₱1.20/liter, and diesel and kerosene by ₱0.60/liter on February 17. Since the year began, the net increase has reached ₱4.20/liter for gasoline, ₱7/liter for diesel, and ₱5/liter for kerosene.

Meanwhile, Petron reported having increased its profits by 37%, or ₱9.7 billion in November 2025. While oil companies rake in billions, the toiling masses suffer untold hardships.