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By Adrian H. Halili, <\/b>Journalist<\/i><\/p>\n
THE Department of Agriculture (DA) is contemplating prolonging the prohibition on rice imports until year-end, as farmgate rates of palay or unmilled rice persist <\/span>to decline.<\/p>\n \u201cI conferred with the President last week, and we agreed to prolong the import ban by at least 30 days,\u201d Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. informed journalists in a blend of English and Filipino at the House of Representatives on Monday.<\/p>\n \u201cIt may potentially be extended until the year’s conclusion, depending on circumstances. The issue is that palay prices have fallen,\u201d he continued.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. previously mandated a 60-day halt of rice imports starting Sept. 1 to safeguard Filipino farmers during the harvest period and to stabilize rice costs. The halt was initially expected to conclude on Nov. 2 and pertains solely to regular milled and well-milled rice.<\/span><\/p>\n Last Friday, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Clarissa A. Castro indicated that the President instructed the extension of the import restriction but did not provide specifics.<\/p>\n According to Republic Act No. 12078, the President is authorized to suspend or forbid the importation of rice during a designated timeframe when there is an excess of local or imported supply, leading to a decrease in local prices.<\/p>\n \u201cI also engaged with our rice millers and traders last week. They are actively advocating for the import prohibition to be extended until year-end,\u201d Mr. Tiu Laurel mentioned.<\/p>\n Mr. Tiu Laurel noted there is \u201ca significant possibility\u201d that tariffs on imported rice could be increased before the import ban concludes.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are currently analyzing the figures from 20%, 25%, to 35%, and ideally, we can reach a decision before the (import) ban ends,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n Tariffs on overseas rice stand at 15% until 2028.<\/p>\n Mr. Tiu Laurel stated that the extension of the import prohibition aims to support farmgate rates of unmilled rice, which had plummeted to P8 to P10 per kilo in certain regions. \u201cThis is a detriment to farmers,\u201d he remarked.<\/span><\/p>\n The farmgate rate for palay decreased by 27.8% to P17.11 per kilo in August, down from the P23.71 per kilo last year, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority revealed.<\/p>\n EMERGENCY PROCUREMENT \u201cThe DA also requested, and it has already been tentatively approved, for the President to issue a directive for the emergency procurement of palay and the urgent procurement for additional leasing and renting of storage facilities,\u201d he mentioned.<\/p>\n Mr. Tiu Laurel stated that this would enable the agency to acquire more palay stocks from Filipino farmers in \u201clow price regions.\u201d<\/p>\n He added that the National Food Authority will procure palay from farmers at a minimum of P17 per kilo under the emergency initiative.<\/p>\n \u201cWe hope that this will assist. We are acting swiftly and deploying extra personnel so that if we acquire additional storage, they will be ready for us to buy and support our farmers,\u201d he expressed.<\/p>\n The Philippines is the largest rice importer globally, according to the US Department of Agriculture. It is expected to import approximately 4.9 million metric tons this year.<\/p>\n Federation of Free Farmers National Manager Raul Q. Montemayor stated that extending the rice import ban to protect farmers would not influence inflation since local harvests are anticipated to mitigate any decline in rice deliveries.<\/p>\n \u201cRice costs and inflation should not escalate since whatever imported supplies are currently available in the market were procured at lower rates before the ban, and local stocks originate from recent harvests that were bought at low prices,\u201d Mr. Montemayor stated in a Viber message.<\/p>\n He added that rice traders will persist in buying palay from farmers at low premiums \u201cout of concern that cheaper imports will inundate the market once the ban is lifted.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n<\/b>The Agriculture chief also indicated that the President will issue an executive directive for emergency governmental procurement of palay.<\/p>\n