By Stephanie Sevillano | Philippine News Agency
The Philippines will not impose a temporary ban on imported rice as the country braces for the impact of the looming peak El Niño, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA).
DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. remarked on the nearing onset of the local harvest season for palay (unhusked rice) in September.
In an interview, the Agriculture Chief said this is part of the government’s move to ensure adequate supply of rice until next year.
Sec. Tiu Laurel Jr. said at the sidelines of market inspection at New Las Piñas City Public Market on Tuesday, “There is a big El Niño coming towards November-December. Technically, we have to have buffer stocks for preparation for December, January, February, March, April next year.”
According to the agency, the country has already surpassed the 3 million metric tons (MT) level of imported rice volume, thus showing the country’s preparation for the “rainy days.”
The Agriculture Chief explained, “Actually, 3.3 million metric tons na ang import as of yesterday. Mino-monitor ko iyan every week, and there will definitely be no import ban.”
He, however, said farmgate prices of wet palay will no longer fall to unreasonable price levels, which happened during the wet harvest last year due to the high volume of rice imports.
Secretary Tiu-Laurel told the Philippine News Agency in a separate message on social media, “I am hoping. But I believe hindi iyan bababa sa P8 to P12 per kilogram. Dapat sa traders nasa P20 to P21 sila wet sana on average.”
Increased budget allocated for local palay procurement
As a support measure, Secretary Tiu-Laurel, who also heads the National Food Authority (NFA) council, said the grains agency will secure higher volume at a higher price under its flexible palay procurement scheme for the wet season.
The Agriculture Chief added, “The difference this year and last year, the NFA is ready to buy rice. We are ready to buy 500,000 metric tons of palay from local farmers, hindi kagaya last year.”
To date, the DA has allocated about P20 billion in funds for local palay procurement for 2026, which is much higher than the P9 billion budget last year.
“So more than times two. That will surely help our farmers,” Tiu Laurel said.
The NFA plans to procure fresh and wet palay from Filipino rice producers at P21 per kg., while P25 to P27 per kg. for dry palay.
The agriculture chief also ordered the immediate decongestion of NFA warehouses in September to give way for the intensified palay buying.
He said they will further increase the volume of aging but good-quality rice stocks through the government’s P20/kilo rice program under the Benteng Bigas Meron (BBM) Na. (PNA)
