By Stephanie Sevillano

MANILA – 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. made the remark despite 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.

“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,” Tiu Laurel said at the sidelines of market inspection at New Las Piñas City Public Market on Tuesday.

The country has already surpassed the 3 million metric tons (MT) level of imported rice volume, according to the agency.

The DA said this shows the country’s preparation for the “rainy days.”

“Actually, 3.3 million metric tons na ang import (Imports have reached 3.3 million metric tons) as of yesterday. Mino-monitor ko iyan (I’m monitoring it) every week, and there will definitely be no import ban,” Tiu Laurel said.

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.

“I am hoping. But I believe hindi iyan bababa sa (it will not drop to) PHP8 to PHP12 per kilogram,” Tiu Laurel told the Philippine News Agency in a separate WhatsApp message.

“Dapat sa traders nasa PHP20 to PHP21 sila wet sana on average (Traders’ price for wet palay should be at PHP20 to PHP21 on average),” he added.

As a support measure, 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 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 (not like last year),” Tiu Laurel said.

To date, the DA has allocated about PHP20 billion in funds for local palay procurement for 2026, which is much higher than the PHP9 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 PHP21 per kg., while PHP25 to PHP27 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 disposal through the government’s PHP20 per kilo rice program under the Benteng Bigas Meron (BBM) Na. (PNA)

Published Date: August 4, 2026