MANILA — In a decisive move to protect local rice farmers from plunging palay prices, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has ordered a 60-day suspension of all rice imports starting September 1, 2025.
Presidential Communications Office (PCO) secretary Dave Gomez announced the directive on Wednesday, following a Cabinet meeting held during the President’s five-day state visit abroad.
“The President issued the directive after consulting with Cabinet members and upon the recommendation of Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.,” Gomez said.
The suspension comes at the onset of the peak harvest season and is intended to prevent the flooding of the market with cheaper imported rice, which local farmers blame for depressed buying prices of palay.
“Right now, the decision is to suspend all rice importation for 60 days beginning Sept. 1. ‘Yan po ang utos ng ating mahal na Pangulo para matulungan ang ating mga magsasaka ng bigas,” Gomez added.
Although the Department of Agriculture had also recommended a tariff hike on rice imports as part of its broader protection strategy, President Marcos said it is “not yet time” to consider such a move.
The Philippines currently imposes tariffs instead of quantitative restrictions on rice imports under the Rice Tariffication Law. With prices of palay reportedly falling in major rice-producing areas, farmers have long urged the government to provide intervention.
The 60-day import freeze is expected to give local producers a more favorable market environment during the critical harvest period./PN
