President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered a temporary halt on the importation of regular milled and well-milled rice to give way to the peak of the local harvest season.
Executive Order No. 93, signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on August 29 and made public over the weekend, suspends rice imports from September 1 to October 30. The order, however, excludes specialty rice varieties that are not commonly grown in the Philippines.
The President had earlier revealed the plan during his state visit to India, stressing the importance of ensuring that Filipino farmers are able to sell their palay at fair prices during harvest.
According to the Department of Agriculture (DA), the suspension is necessary to allow the domestic market to fully absorb local supply, stabilize prices, and provide much-needed protection for farmers struggling with fluctuating costs.
The order also instructs the DA, the Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DepDev), and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to convene within 30 days of its effectivity. They are mandated to assess the impact of the suspension on supply and pricing, and submit their joint recommendations to the President within 15 days thereafter.
The suspension period may be shortened or extended depending on the findings of the three agencies.
