Marcos orders 60-day suspension of rice imports

President Marcos has ordered a 60-day suspension of all rice importation starting Sept. 1 to shield local farmers from falling palay prices during the ongoing harvest season, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) announced.

- By ARGYLL CYRUS GEDUCOS

The President announced the move after consultations with key Cabinet officials on the sidelines of his five-day state visit to India.

In a statement, Communications Secretary Dave Gomez said the temporary halt was based on the recommendation of Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.

"Right now the decision is to suspend all rice importation for 60 days beginning Sept. 1," he said. "That is the order of our beloved President to help our rice farmers."

However, the President clarified that while the Department of Agriculture (DA) had earlier proposed increasing rice import tariffs, the matter will be deferred for now.

"We will still see if we need to resort to that," Marcos said, noting that a tariff hike was not yet on the table.

He said the focus must remain on protecting local producers in the immediate term.