President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. expressed concern on Friday over the agricultural losses caused by recent typhoons and said the government might have to import more rice before the year ends.
“I just received a report from the Department of Agriculture, and it looks like we’ll need to boost our imports. Fortunately, the prices for imported rice have significantly decreased compared to last year,” he said.
The President said rice imports could go up to 4.5 million metric tons of rice this year, an increase from the 3.9 million metric tons imported last year.
He noted significant damage to rice fields and other crops, which may require an increase in rice imports to stabilize the food supply and prices.
“In terms of food security, we’re in a good position, but the damage is extensive,” President Marcos told reporters.
“We’ve seen numerous rice fields and crops destroyed, which requires immediate attention,” he added.
The Philippines remained the top rice importer for 2024 following the damage brought by El Niño and the string of typhoons that ravaged the country.
The Philippines is expected to import around 5.1 MMT of grain in 2025, according to the latest Grain: World Markets and Trade Report from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).
This updated forecast marks a 200,000 MT increase from the USDA’s October estimate of 4.9 MMT and is slightly above the 5 MMT projected for 2024.
Meanwhile, the Department of Agriculture previously reported about P7 billion in damage to agriculture from Typhoons ‘Kristine’ and ‘Leon’.
The president explained that, unlike during the El Niño period when rice shortages impacted several ASEAN countries, the current situation is more localized, giving the Philippines an advantage in securing lower-priced imports.
He emphasized that the government is focusing on controlling food prices, especially for items affected by recent typhoons.
President Marcos pointed out the unprecedented series of storms, with six typhoons striking the country in just three weeks.
“This hasn’t happened since 1946, just after the war. In my lifetime, I haven’t seen anything like this,” he remarked.
The government is currently assessing the full extent of the damage caused by Typhoon Pepito and other storms to ensure adequate support for affected farmers and communities.
