DA mulls extending rice import ban to end-2025

The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Monday said it is looking at the possibility of extending the ban on rice imports until the end of the year, citing the continued decline in prices of palay or unmilled rice in the country.

According to Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., he met with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. last week, and they have decided to extend the import ban for a minimum of 30 days.

“It is possible na hanggang end of the year pa ‘yan, depende sa sitwasyon. ‘Yun na nga ang problema kasi bumagsak na naman ang presyo ng palay [It is possible the ban may be extended until the end of the year, depending on the situation. That is the problem because prices of palay have declined again],” he said.

To recall, Marcos last month ordered a 60-day halt to rice imports, set to last until October 30, 2025.

Latest data available from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) show that the average farmgate prices of palay stood at P17.11 per kilogram as of August 2025, and have reportedly declined to as low as P8 per kilo.

“May mga steps tayo ngayon na na-aprubahan na ni President. Maglalabas tayo ng EO na magbabawal ‘yung pagbili ng government LGUs and other government offices ng imported rice, para makatulong sa ating rice farmers,” Tiu Laurel said.

“There’s a big possibility na iakyat na ‘yung taripa ulit ano, pagkatapos ng import ban, at may EO na rin tayong ilalabas na floor price sa palay,” he added.

(We have steps that have already been approved by the President. We will release an EO that will ban the local governments and other government offices from buying imported rice, to help our rice farmers.

There’s a big possibility that the tariffs will be increased after the import ban, and there will also be an EO on a floor price for palay.)

Moving forward, Tiu Laurel said Marcos has also approved in principle an EO for the emergency procurement of palay, and for the additional lease of warehouses for storage of the palay stocks. — BM, GMA Integrated News