Jamaine Punzalan

Workers load sacks of rice onto a truck at the National Food Authority’s Balagtas Warehouse 3 in Bulacan on  August 13, 2025, for delivery to various Kadiwa stores in the province. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

RICE WAREHOUSE

Agatha Gregorio

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/175971761742220250813-rice-warehouse-balagtas-MT14.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Workers load sacks of rice onto a truck at the National Food Authority’s Balagtas Warehouse 3 in Bulacan on  August 13, 2025, for delivery to various Kadiwa stores in the province. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The rice import ban will be extended until the end of the year, Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said Monday. </p><p>“I-e-extend na ho ang import stoppage ‘til end of 2025,” Tiu Laurel said.</p><p>Tiu Laurel said the agency, upon checking its import data for the year, found there is enough buffer stock for 85 days.</p><p>“Nakuha na namin ang import data ng whole of September and the whole year at na-analyze na namin. So ngayon, we’re comfortable. We have enough buffer stock for 85 days in the country. So that is more than enough to — na kahit hindi tayo mag-import ng hanggang end of the year. So very safe,” Tiu Laurel told the media in an interview.</p><p>President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. initially <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/8/30/marcos-jr-issues-order-on-60-day-suspension-of-rice-importation-2016">suspended</a> rice importation for 60 days beginning Sept. 1, 2025 “to protect local farmers reeling from low palay prices during this current harvest season,” the Palace had said.</p><p>Tiu Laurel said the total rice imports already reached 3.5 MMT as of end of September, which is 800,000 MT more than the 2.7 MMT target for that period. </p><p>“Ang kailangan lang natin i-import actually in one year based on project harvest is 3.5 million tons… Kung susumahin ho natin ‘yung January to September ng dapat natin i-import dapat nasa 2.7 lang tayo. Pero na-import natin is 3.5. So we are 800,000 tons in excess sa importation. And ito ho, wala kaming magagawa sa DA dahil ang batas clearly says na liberalized ito. At kung hindi namin aprubahan o aksiyunan ang application ng importer within seven days, deemed approved ito,” Tiu Laurel said.</p><p>The total import target for the year is at 3.6 MMT. Tiu Laurel said, supply is already enough.</p><p>“Sa ngayon, nasa 3.55 yata so kaunting kaunti nalang kulang… Let’s assume na rin na may ilan diyan na papuslit-puslit. I think we’re okay until the end of the year,” Tiu Laurel said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/7/13/farmers-group-life-hard-in-countryside-despite-improved-labor-statistics-1151">Farmers&#x27; group: Life hard in countryside despite improved labor statistics</a></div><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=316&amp;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Freel%2F810733297988300%2F&amp;show_text=true&amp;width=560&amp;t=0" width="560" height="431" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>DA LOOKING AT RESUMING IMPORTATION BY JANUARY, SUSPENDING BY FEBRUARY TO APRIL</strong></div><p>DA is also looking at resuming importation in January next year as imported stock may run out by November.</p><p>It will again suspend importation from February to April during the harvest season.</p><p>“Ang wish din natin is tumaas ang taripa ulit, but ito’y pinag-aaralan pa ng ating economic managers — ‘yung implications. So may dalawang plano naman ito. Of course, kung umakyat ang taripa, well and good. 35% as sinabi din ng ating Speaker. Pero kung hindi naman mangyari ‘yun, Ang plano ng DA– more or less approved na ito ng Presidente — we will allow importation in January for one month. Tapos February, icu-cut ulit hanggang April para ‘yung harvest season natin ng mid-February until end of April, wala na namang April,” Tiu Laurel said.</p><p>“I believe we have to import by January just to make sure kasi ang imported stocks naman natin na hininto natin ng September, ang estimate ng DA, mauubos ‘yan ng end of November. So December, we will be running purely on local stocks. Walang imported rice na well-milled. Medyo delikado rin ‘yung ganoong sitwasyon, so malamang Enero kailangan magpasok tayo ng at least 300,000 tons lang,” Tiu Laurel added.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>WAITING FOR EO TO IMPLEMENT FLOOR PRICE </strong></div><p>The DA is just waiting for Malacanang to issue an executive order that will set a floor price on palay, which could be at a minimum of P17 per kilogram for wet palay.</p><p>“Hinihintay lang natin either EO or an order from the Office of the President. ‘Yung 17 naman na sinasabi natin is the minimum. So it doesn&#x27;t mean ‘yun na ‘yung floor price. Parang it should not go below P17. So baka ang i-impose natin would be P18 or P19 base sa wishes ng ating presidente,” Tiu Laurel said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/7/2/-low-palay-prices-seen-causing-losses-for-local-farmers-2034">&#x27;Low palay prices&#x27; seen causing losses for local farmers</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>HOUSE SPEAKER WANTS 35% TARIFF</strong></div><p>House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III also wants tariffs increased to 35% from the current 15% to protect local farmers from the entry of imported rice.</p><p>&quot;Isa sa mga pangunahing prayoridad na ating isinusulong sa LEDAC (Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council) ay ang Rice Industry and Consumer Empowerment Act o RICE Act upang mapatatag ng National Food Authority or NFA na mapangalagaan ang kabuhayan ng atin pong mga magsasaka at mapanatiling abot-kaya ang bigas para sa bawat pamilyang Pilipino. Kasama rito ang mga reporma sa tariff system upang maibalik sa 35% ang dating taripa mula sa kasalukuyang 15%, bilang proteksyon laban sa biglaang pagdagsa ng imported na bigas,” Dy said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/9/29/rice-tariffication-draws-flak-during-house-budget-hearing-2305">Rice tariffication draws flak during House budget hearing</a></div><p>Lawmakers such as House Committee on Agriculture and Food Chairperson Wilfrido Enverga and Abono party-list Rep. Robert Estrella echoed Dy’s call.</p><p>Tiu Laurel said this is still under review by economic managers and a decision could be reached before the year ends.</p><p>“Mas magandang may increase na ‘yung tariff… But as of the moment, 35% seems reasonable. But of course, our economic managers are seriously looking into this kung ano ba magiging epekto kasi ayaw niya naman natin ‘pag in-impose ‘to — additional 20% kaagad baka naman tumaas na naman ang presyo sa merkado at ‘yung consumers naman natin ang magreklamo. So it&#x27;s really a balancing act,” Tiu Laurel said.</p><p>Meanwhile, Dy suggested that subsidies from the DA should be given in cash to speed its delivery and allay doubts of irregularity. </p><p>“Lahat sana ng uri ng subsidiya mula sa Department of Agriculture, tulad ng seed subsidy, ay ibigay na ring cash para mas madali and direkta itong mapakinabangan ng ating mga magsasaka kasi kung minsan pinagdududahan pa po tayo dito sa mga seed subsidy,” Dy said. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/30/damage-in-agri-sector-reaches-nearly-p2-b-due-to-recent-typhoons-da-1639">Damage in agri sector reaches nearly P2-B due to recent typhoons: DA</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/39l2ol7KrUE?si=NHC70LAtTeEdD-n6" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div>

<p>The rice import ban will be extended until the end of the year, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said Monday. </p>

The rice import ban will be extended until the end of the year, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said Monday.

Rice import ban to be extended until end of 2025: agri chief

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

Nation

Rice import ban to be extended until end of 2025: agri chief

Agatha Gregorio,

ABS-CBN News

Published October 06, 2025 10:30 AM PHT

|

Updated October 06, 2025 05:15 PM PHT

Read More:

rice

rice import

rice importation

DA

agriculture

Tiu Laurel

Bojie Dy

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.