Mary Jade Jadormio

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) will not suspend rice imports as it moves to secure enough buffer stocks against a possible El Niño later this year.

Rice arrivals have already reached about 3.2 million metric tons, but Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said additional supply remains necessary to cover demand through the first months of 2027.

“We need to have buffer stocks for December, January, February, March and April next year,” Tiu Laurel said during a market inspection in Las Piñas City.

Government officials expect hotter conditions beginning in November to affect farm output and possibly disrupt poultry and crop production.

Current rice inventories are expected to remain stable as harvesting begins in some areas by September before peaking from October to December.

Local palay production will help replenish supply while imported stocks will serve as insurance against severe weather and other disruptions.

Tiu Laurel said the country should avoid major supply problems through the end of the year unless a strong typhoon damages key farming areas.

Retail rice prices observed during the inspection ranged from about P47 to P50 per kilo for regular varieties.

The Agriculture chief said those prices do not justify a new price ceiling because market levels remain within the government’s target range.

They also maintained its appeal for traders to stop importing 5-percent broken rice to limit competition with locally produced grain.

Government warehouses are being cleared ahead of the main harvest season so the National Food Authority (NFA) can buy more palay from farmers.

NFA may purchase up to 500,000 metric tons of palay using a P20-billion fund this year.

Target buying prices were set at P21 per kilo for wet palay and P25 to P27 per kilo for dry palay.

Tiu Laurel said the larger procurement budget should help prevent farmgate prices from collapsing once the main harvest begins.

Image credits: PNA

Published Date: August 5, 2026