The Department of Agriculture (DA) is sounding the alarm over unscrupulous groups peddling bogus rice-import allocations in a bid to make quick money, warning importers not to fall for the scam.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. said information reaching his office shows certain individuals are offering supposed “allocations” that would let importers bring in rice as early as December.

“This is fake news, this is a scam,” Tiu Laurel declared, issuing a sharp warning to those behind the scheme: “We are on to you.”

He stressed that the rice-import moratorium remains in force until December 31, in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to stabilize palay prices and shield local rice farmers from financial distress.

The initial two-month import freeze imposed in September helped push palay prices in key provinces such as Isabela and Nueva Ecija up to P13–P14 per kilo, from lows of around P8 before the ban. But as harvest season peaked and the moratorium neared its original end date, farm-gate prices again softened—prompting government to extend the freeze through year-end.

Despite this, the DA chief said solicitation forms have begun circulating among rice millers, importers, and traders in Cebu, claiming that those who sign up “will be able to import by December” and receive guaranteed allocations.

One such sample form—styled with official-sounding language—asks the Secretary to acknowledge a list of “participating miller-importers” with supposed import volumes from previous years, and implies that signatories would be included in a “food security program in 2026.”

The DA urged industry players to remain vigilant and immediately report any similar solicitations. (By DA – OSEC Comms & file photo by AFID)

Published Date: December 1, 2025