Benise Balaoing

Different types of rice are sold at the AGora Market in San Juan City on May 7, 2024. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. wants to certify as urgent to lawmakers in Congress the proposed amendments to Republic Act No. 11203 or the rice tariffication law (RTL) to lower rice prices in the country. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Rice

Jervis Manahan

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA --The Department of Agriculture is eyeing to gradually increase tariffs on imported rice as prices in the international market fall.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/3/5/inflation-settles-at-2-1-percent-in-february-0907" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Inflation settles at 2.1 percent in February</a></div><p>The tariff on imported rice was slashed from 35 percent to 15 percent through Executive Order 62, which took effect in July 2024. This is part of the government&#x27;s efforts to bring down rice prices last year.</p><p>Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. however earlier said it would be dangerous for the market to revert back to <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/business/2024/6/4/neda-board-to-reduce-rice-tariffs-to-15-pct-from-35-pct-until-2028-1444" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">35 percent</a> in just one snap. </p><p>Agriculture Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said actual figures and the timeline for the tariff increases have yet to be determined. He said several circumstances show that reverting to higher tariffs is timely, since lower tariffs mean lower funds for their programs such as the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF).</p><p>&quot;Una, nagkaroon talaga ng pagbaba sa presyo. And of course, makaka-apekto rin kasi yan dun sa programa natin, halimbawa sa RCEF. Last year, maganda yung ating collection. Ngayon, definitely, kasi half yun eh,&quot; De Mesa said.</p><p>(First, prices in the international market is down. And also, this will also affect our programs like the RCEF. Last year, we had good collection. This year, it might be halved.)</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/2/7/six-out-of-10-filipinos-affected-by-rising-rice-prices-survey-1244" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Six out of 10 Filipinos affected by rising rice prices, gov&#x27;t measures not enough: SWS survey</a></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/2/26/maximum-srp-of-imported-rice-to-be-lowered-further-to-p49-kilo-on-march-1-1306" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Maximum SRP of imported rice to be lowered further to P49/kilo</a></div><p>The Philippines is also expected to reduce rice imports this year due to the high volume of imports last year, which reached 4.8 million metric tons. Local rice harvests are also expected to improve this year. Harvests declined last year as El Niño reduced rainfall and dried up farms.</p><p>&quot;Actually, naglabas ng statement din ng USDA [US Department of Agriculture] na, yun nga, expectedly this year, bababa significantly yung level of imports for rice ng Pilipinas,&quot; he added.</p><p>(USDA released a statement where we are expecting reduced rice imports this year.)</p>

<p>The Department of Agriculture is wants to gradually increase tariffs in imported rice again, as prices in the international market decrease.</p>

The Department of Agriculture is wants to gradually increase tariffs in imported rice again, as prices in the international market decrease.

Agri dept eyes gradual increase in rice tariffs this year

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Agri dept eyes gradual increase in rice tariffs this year

Jervis Manahan,

ABS-CBN News

Published Apr 02, 2025 05:42 PM PHT

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