President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has approved the extension of the rice import ban until the end of the year to help stabilize farmgate prices of palay, Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. announced Sunday.
“With the import ban having little impact on retail prices and supply, but a significant effect on farmgate prices, President Marcos deemed it necessary to extend the suspension for two more months,” Tiu Laurel said, noting that the official announcement will be issued today (Monday).
The President initially ordered a 2-month import halt until October 31 to counter the sharp drop in palay prices ahead of the wet harvest season.
Prices briefly recovered but began to slip again as the suspension neared expiry.
Tiu Laurel said that with harvests still ongoing in several regions, the extended ban—combined with the Sagip Saka program and the newly imposed floor price for palay—will help protect rice farmers.
At a recent Senate hearing, he cited over-importation, weather-damaged crops, and poor grain quality in some areas as key factors depressing farmgate prices.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) projects rice supply to remain sufficient even under a 120-day import pause. Conservative estimates place available stocks at 89 days by end-December, while more optimistic scenarios project up to 92 days, based on projected per-capita consumption of 122.7 kg a year—compared with only 58 days’ worth of stocks at end-2024.
Tiu Laurel said he recommended the extension as “a necessary measure to support local producers, maintain price stability, and allow a more thorough review of the policy’s effects.”
Despite the ban, retail prices have held steady, DA Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service (AMAS) data show. By November, well-milled rice is expected to average about P42 per kilo, and regular-milled rice about P40.
The extension, Tiu Laurel added, will allow a fuller assessment of the ban’s impact on both farmers and consumers while keeping local growers protected from cheaper imported stocks.
