By: Jordeene B. Lagare – Reporter

MANILA, Philippines — The government is set to extend the moratorium on rice importation and raise tariffs on imported grains to help stabilize palay (unmilled rice) prices at the peak of harvest season.

President Marcos has directed the Department of Agriculture (DA) to prepare the necessary orders to extend the import freeze, according to Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.

Tiu Laurel said last week that he was “inclined” to propose an extension of the import suspension lasting for 15 to 30 days.

“The duration of the import freeze and the possible increase in taxes on imported rice will be determined once we have more accurate data on supply and prices of palay at the farm gate,” Tiu Laurel said in a statement on Wednesday.

Import ban in effect

President Marcos imposed a 60-day rice import ban effective Sept. 1 to protect local farmers from declining palay prices and the influx of cheaper imported rice during the harvest season.

The suspension, which will end on Nov. 2, only applies to regular milled and well-milled rice. It excluded other varieties, including fragrant rice and basmati rice.

The DA said palay prices have declined since then, following a brief increase to about P14 per kilogram from a low of P8 per kg before the President’s directive. This is due to the onset of the main harvest season. Rains brought by La Niña have likewise affected palay quality.

Import volumes

Since import volumes affect palay prices, the DA recommended holding off imports during harvest season.

Rice imports totaled 3.08 million metric tons (MT) this year, based on September data. The amount is equivalent to 64.1 percent of last year’s record high volume of 4.8 million MT, according to data from the Bureau of Plant Industry.

Vietnam accounted for 51.5 percent of inbound rice shipments, followed by Myanmar with a 7.1 percent share. Other suppliers included Thailand, China, Pakistan, India, Japan, Singapore, Korea and Spain. /dda

Published Date: September 25, 2025