Philippines : DA chief mulls extension of rice import freeze
Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. said he is likely to recommend extending the Philippines’ rice import moratorium by 15–30 days, citing improved farmgate palay prices since the September–October suspension began. He noted prices rose from P8–10/kg pre-ban to P13–17/kg. Laurel also backed amending the Rice Tariffication Law.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. said he is inclined to recommend to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. an extension of the current rice importation moratorium by at least 15 days, citing improvements in local palay prices since the temporary ban was put in place.
The rice importation suspension, ordered by President Marcos, covers the months of September and October—timed to protect local farmers during the peak of the main palay harvest season. The Department of Agriculture (DA) is expected to submit its recommendation on whether to extend or shorten the import moratorium by the end of September.
“Pending data validation, I am now inclined to recommend that the President extend the ban for at least 15 to 30 days,” Tiu Laurel said.
According to preliminary data from the DA, farmgate prices of wet palay have increased in recent weeks. “Before the import ban, prices of wet palay have fallen to around P8 to P10 per kilo. We are now seeing P17 per kilo in some areas of Mindanao,” the DA chief said. “In provinces like Isabela and Nueva Ecija, prices have risen to P13 to P14 per kilo. Although these prices are still not profitable for most farmers, they are an improvement.”
The cost of producing a kilo of palay is around P14, a number that drops to P12 for the most efficient producer of the grain—the country’s main food staple.
Tiu Laurel added that the volume of imported rice entering the country is a significant factor in determining palay prices, which prompted the initial recommendation to suspend imports during harvest season.
The DA also reiterated its support for amending the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL), which liberalized rice importation in 2019. Proposed revisions to the RTL would restore some regulatory functions to the National Food Authority (NFA), including the ability to intervene in the market and manage importation volumes in coordination with the DA.
Tiu Laurel said he is scheduled to meet with Senate agriculture committee chair Senator Francis Pangilinan, House Committee on Agriculture Chair and Quezon Rep. Mark Enverga, and Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella III to finalize the proposed amendments before submitting them to President Marcos, who has identified the bill as a legislative priority.
He also noted that recent changes in Senate and House leadership have not affected the chairmanships of the agriculture committees, which will play a key role in pushing the proposed RTL amendments forward.
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Source : DA
