Helen Flores, Alden Monzon – The Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos has extended the 15 percent tax on imported rice until the end of the year and created an interagency group on rice tariff adjustment, Malacañang said yesterday.

Under Executive Order 105, signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin by authority of the President on Nov. 7, the Most Favored Nation rates of duty on rice, both in-quota and out-quota, under EO 62 shall be maintained until Dec. 31 this year.

EO 105 also provides for tariff adjustments, effective Jan. 1, 2026, based on movements in international rice prices, with rates ranging from 15 to 35 percent.

The new EO, which amended EO 62 issued by Marcos in June last year, established the Inter-Agency Group on Rice Tariff Adjustment, tasked to monitor and adjust rice import taxes in response to changes in world market prices.

The body will be composed of representatives from the Department of Economy, Planning and Development, Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Finance and the Office of the Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs.

“Beginning January 1, 2026, the MFN rates of duty on rice shall be: increased by five percentage points per five percent decrease in international rice prices; or decreased by five percentage points per five percent increase in international rice prices,” EO 105 stated.

“However, the MFN rates of duty on rice, both in-quota and out-quota, shall in no case be below 15 percent or above 35 percent,” the EO said.

The inter-agency group has been directed to formulate the guidelines necessary to implement the order, including the determination of the thresholds, certification by the DA that such thresholds or trigger price levels have been reached, monitoring period, and other relevant details regarding the adjustment of the MFN rates of duty on rice.

The Economy and Development Council earlier resolved to maintain the MFN tariff rate on rice at 15 percent until the end of the 2025 for both for in-quota and out-quota, and to implement a mechanism for adjusting the MFN tariff rate on rice in accordance with international market conditions starting Jan. 1 next year.

EO 62, signed on June 20, 2024, lowered the tariff on imported rice from 35 percent to 15 percent until 2028, which Marcos’ economic managers believed could bring down the price of the staple.

Marcos earlier extended the rice import ban until Dec. 31, which according to the DA would have a significant effect on the farmgate prices of palay.

Meanwhile, farmers’ group Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG) slammed the government’s decision to retain the reduced rice import tariff rate, saying the measure is no longer justified since global prices have stabilized.

“The starting point of any sensible rice development policy must be the restoration of the 35 percent rice import tariff,” SINAG executive director Jayson Cainglet said.

Published Date: November 10, 2025