The Federation of Free Farmers (FFF) has formally filed a petition to the Tariff Commission to implement an additional 30% safeguard duty on imported rice.

On August 4, the Department of Agriculture (DA) reported that an estimated 3.3 million metric tons of imported rice have entered the country. For local, farmers, this will be a serious concern, especially with the upcoming harvest season.

According to the group, local farmers allegedly lose nearly P50 billion annually due to oversupply of imported rice.

However, DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. stressed that it is important to make sure that the supply of rice is sufficient, as the country is preparing for the impacts of El Niño on agricultural lands in the coming months.

“There will be no import ban definitely because, as I mentioned a while ago, there is big El Niño coming,” he said

“Medyo nakapag-stock tayo. Kaya nga kaya nga nag 3.3 million na tayo ngayon. Maaga pa lang is because meron na tayong stock na may nakatago tayo for a rainy day,” he added

Based on the assessment of the DA, the unmilled rice (palay) could decrease by 750,000 metric tons due to El Niño, that’s why the agency is not considering a suspension of rice imports at this time.

Nevertheless, alongside continued importations, the DA stated that the National Food Authority (NFA) is ready to purchase palay from local farmers to prevent the sharp drop in its prices.

The NFA targets to buy around 500,000 metric tons of palay during wet harvest season of at least P21 per kilogram for wet palat and P25 to P27 per kilogram for dry palay.

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