President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has ordered a 60-day suspension on all rice imports beginning September 1, 2025, in a bid to shield local farmers from the ongoing decline in palay prices during the harvest season.
The directive, announced by Presidential Communications Office Acting Secretary Dave Gomez on Wednesday, came after consultations held during the President’s state visit to India and following a recommendation from Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.
“’Yan po ang utos ng ating Mahal na Pangulo para matulungan ang ating mga magsasaka ng bigas,” Gomez told reporters, affirming that the immediate priority is farmer welfare, not tariff adjustments on imported rice.
The suspension follows growing pressure on the government to intervene, as local farmers face losses due to a combination of plummeting palay prices and a surge in rice imports. Tiu Laurel had earlier pushed for raising the current 15% import tariff to limit importation and generate funds that could be channeled back into programs that enhance farmers’ productivity and competitiveness.
The administration previously slashed rice tariffs to 15% to cushion consumers from rising global rice prices. However, the Department of Agriculture recently flagged the downside of that move, citing oversupply and its adverse impact on local producers.
The Federation of Free Farmers (FFF) welcomed the suspension but criticized the government for acting too late. The group pointed out that many rice farmers had already sunk into debt, with some even questioning whether planting rice remained a viable livelihood.
