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
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.
Farmers have attributed low palay prices to rice imports, which the government no longer caps but imposes tariffs on.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. initially suspended 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.
SUBSIDIES
Meanwhile, House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy IIII suggested that subsidies from the DA should be given in cash to speed its delivery and allay doubts of irregularity.
“Lahat sana ng uri ng subsidiya mula sa Department of Agriculture, tulad ng seed subsidy, ay ibigay na ring cash para mas madali and direktao itong mapakinabangan ng ating mga magsasaka kasi kung minsan pinagdududahan pa po tayo dito sa mga seed subsidy,” Dy said.
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