President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered the extension of the rice import ban, which covers the period from September 1 to November 2, to support Filipino farmers and stabilize rice prices.

“Bilang suporta sa ating mga magsasaka, mas mahabang rice import ban isinusulong ni Pangulong Marcos Jr.,” Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said during a Palace press briefing on Friday.

“Sa ilalim ng direktiba ng Pangulo, pahahabain pa ang two-month import suspension na magtatapos dapat sa November 2,” Castro added.

According to the Palace Press Officer, the President’s order aims to promote the welfare of farmers who continue to work to provide food for every Filipino family.

“Layunin din nitong i-stabilize ang presyo ng palay sa merkado at alalayan ang mga Pilipinong magsasaka sa panahon ng ani,” Castro said.

“Ang hakbang na ito ng Pangulo ay pagtaguyod sa kapakanan ng mga magsasaka na patuloy sa pagtatrabaho upang may maihain sa hapag kainan ang bawat pamilyang Filipino.”

Agriculture Secretary Francisco, iu Laurel Jr. earlier announced that the President has directed the DA to prepare the necessary orders to extend the import freeze, which started last September 1 and is scheduled to end on November 2.

The extension of the two-month rice import suspension and raising tariffs on imported rice were aimed at stabilizing palay prices and protecting Filipino farmers during the peak of the harvest season, the DA said.

The import suspension was imposed to help farmers recover from falling palay prices triggered by a surge in cheaper imported rice.

According to the DA, palay prices briefly rose from a low of P8 a kilo to around P14 per kilo before dropping again due to the onset of the main harvest and the impact on palay quality of the heavy rains. Presidential News Desk