President Marcos suspends rice importation for 60 days

MANILA, Philippines, August 7 ------ President Marcos has ordered the 60-day suspension of rice importation starting Sept. 1, Malacañang announced.

The move aims “to protect local farmers reeling from low palay prices during this current harvest season,” Presidential Communications Secretary Dave Gomez said. Marcos’ directive came after he met with some Cabinet members on Tuesday on the sidelines of his state visit to India, and upon the recommendation of Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. Gomez and Tiu Laurel are part of Marcos’ delegation in his state visit from Aug. 4 to 8.

Citing reports, the Department of Agriculture (DA) earlier said that with cheaper imports flooding the market, some private traders are now buying palay (unmilled rice) for as low as P8 to P10 per kilo, well below the production cost of P12 to P14 per kilo. Farmers have attributed this sharp decline to the influx of cheaper imported rice, the DA noted.

Source: philstar.com