President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered the temporary suspension of rice imports to protect farmers from lower farmgate prices as harvests are expected to peak next month.

Marcos issued his directive to suspend all rice importation for 60 days beginning September 1 following a consultation with the Cabinet members on the sideline of his five-day state visit to India.

The consultation was made in response to the recommendation of Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tui-Laurel Jr. to temporarily suspend the importation of rice and gradually increase the tariff on rice imports.

Marcos opted to hold the decision on another recommendation to gradually increase rice tariff from 15 percent to 25 percent and later to 35 percent.

However, Laurel stressed that the decision of Marcos for temporary "suspension is a more calibrated action, one that we can quickly reverse if needed."

“It gives us the flexibility to act fast to protect both our farmers and our consumers. A premature tariff hike, on the other hand, could backfire and would take much longer to undo," he added.

Laurel said the Department of Agriculture will use the two-month import freeze to assess its effects on rice prices and the broader market.

“If this strategy leads to higher farmgate prices and better income for our farmers, we may no longer need to raise the tariff,” he explained.

“What matters most is that we make a well-informed decision because millions of lives depend on the outcome," he added.

The Department of Agriculture made its recommendations following reports that in some places, rice traders are buying rice at the farmgate price of P8 a kilo, which is just two thirds of the amount spent by the most efficient farmers to produce a kilo of rice.

“We are walking a tightrope here. The stakes are high for both our farmers and the Filipino people, so it’s crucial that we strike the right balance," he said.

In a previous interview, Laurel said the harvest season is expected to peak in September and October this year followed by the next harvest in February and March next year. Robina Asido/DMS