Marcos Jr. Orders Suspension of Rice Import in PH for Local Farmers
RICE IMPORT – Malacañang announced the order of President Bongbong Marcos to suspend it for 60 days for the Filipino farmers.
The affordable rice is undeniably the most popular campaign promise of Pres. Bongbong Marcos when he was running for president during the 2022 Elections campaign period. Countless Filipinos hold on to the said promise. With rice being a staple food in the country, having it under an affordable cost will benefit countless Filipinos.
However, the Marcos Jr. administration was able to achieve the P20 per kilo rice on the halfway of his term as president. The Department of Agriculture claimed that P5 billion funds were allotted for the subsidy of the P20 per kilo rice. The affordable rice earned different reactions from the people.
Amid the questions and speculations, Pres. Bongbong Marcos assured that the presence of the P20 per kilo rice will be continuous. He admitted that it took long for the government to achieve the promise as many things have to be done but they have found a way to make it sustainable.
During the Marcos SONA 2025, Marcos Jr. beamed with confidence as he said the government was able to achieve the promise of a P20 per kilo rice without putting farmers on the losing end. Based on a report, the President also recently addressed the claims of Filipinos farmers of low palay costs because of rice import in the country.
Based on a report on ABS-CBN News, Malacañang announced that Pres. Bongbong Marcos has ordered the temporary suspension of rice import in the Philippines for 60 days. According to President Communications Office Secretary Dave Gomez, the move wants “to protect local farmers reeling from low palay prices during this current harvest season”.
The government no longer caps the rice import in the Philippines but imposes tariffs. The Department of Agriculture has previously called on the government for the suspension of the rice import in the country and the increase in tariff for imported rice. The DA wants an 10% increase on rice tariff that would it bring from 15% to 25% ahead of the next season for harvest.
Based on the report, Pres. Bongbong Marcos said it is not yet time to talk about increasing the tariff on rice import. The suspension is the decision for now.
“We will still see if we need to resort to that. Right now, the decision is to suspend all rice importation for 60 days beginning Sept. 1,” Gomez said.
Previously, amid the call of the people for the fulfillment of the campaign promise of the President, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte confirmed that the P20 per kilo rice is doable but she does not want to help Marcos Jr.