DA: Rice import ban to continue through December
MANILA, Philippines — The rice import suspension has been extended until December 31 this year by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the Department of Agriculture (DA) announced.
In a statement on Sunday, November 2, the DA said the Executive Order (EO) formalizing the extension will be released on Monday, November 3.
“With the import ban having little impact on retail prices and supply of rice but a significant effect on the farmgate price of palay, President Marcos deemed it necessary to extend the suspension for two more months,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel said in a statement.
Through EO 93, Marcos temporarily halted regular and well-milled rice imports for two months, ending on October 31, as a measure to address falling palay prices ahead of the harvest.
With harvests ongoing in several regions, the extended import ban is expected to complement the rollout of the Sagip Saka program and the establishment of a palay floor price, supporting struggling rice farmers, the DA said.
Despite the import suspension, the DA projects that rice availability will remain sufficient.
Estimates from the agency indicate that the national supply will cover 89 days by year-end, a significant improvement from the projected 58 days of stock at the end of 2024.
The DA’s Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service also reported stable retail rice prices. By November, well-milled rice is expected to average around P42 per kilo, while regular-milled rice is projected near P40.
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