Marcos suspends rice imports for 60 days

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. has ordered a 60-day suspension of rice imports starting Sept.1, in a move aimed at protecting Filipino farmers affected by low rough rice prices during the harvest season.

- By Chloe Mari A. Hufana

The President acted on the recommendation of the Department of Agriculture (DA) after consultations with his Cabinet while on a five-day state visit to India, acting Presidential Communications Secretary Dave M.Gomez told reporters on Wednesday.

"[The move is] to protect local farmers reeling from low palay prices during this current harvest season," he said.

Mr. Gomez said there are no plans to act on the DA's recommendation to hike the rice tariff to 25% from the current 15%.

"We will still see if we need to resort to that. Right now, the decision is to suspend all rice importation for 60 days beginning Sept. 1," he added.

The Philippines is the world's biggest rice importer, having brought in 2.44 million metric tons (MT) as of end-July, based on Bureau of Plant Industry data.

The country imported 4.7 million MT last year and is projected to exceed that volume this year.

In June, Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr., told the House of Representatives he had recommended gradually restoring the rice import tariff to its original 35% rate from 15%, which was set under Executive Order (EO) No. 62 signed by Mr. Marcos in June 2024.