Marcos rice import ban drives up palay price

By Ernie Delgado

LEGAZPI CITY --- President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s ban on rice imports, set to begin next month, has already led to an increase in the price of palay (unmilled rice) in the Bicol region, according to a National Food Authority (NFA) official.

Beginning September 1, all overseas procurement of rice will be suspended until the end of October, following an order issued by Marcos last week.

During the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas media briefing on Tuesday, NFA Assistant Regional Director Julie Llenaresas reported that the buying price for dry palay in Bicol has risen by 6.25 percent since the announcement of the two-month import ban.

“After the pronouncement of President Marcos, nagpa-survey po ang Department of Agriculture (DA) kung ano ang epekto. Tumaas po ng peso. Yung P16, naging P17,” she said.

Marcos declared the enforcement of the two-month ban on rice imports to stabilize the prices of palay and protect farmers from cheap imported rice.

Starting September 1, this ban will apply solely to regular and well-milled rice. Various other types, such as Japanese, black, and basmati rice, will be excluded from this restriction.

Llenaresas said that the purpose of the import ban is to enable the price of palay to increase, thereby providing farmers with better income.

“Dahil po marami ang umaangal na magsasaka na mababa raw ang bilihan sa kanila ng private traders,” she said.

(Because many farmers are complaining that private traders are buying their palay at low prices.)

Before the announcement of the import ban, private traders were buying dry palay from farmers in Bicol at P16 per kg, which was significantly lower than the NFA’s support price of P24 per kg.

“Ang kagandahan po sa pag-suspend ng (importation) ay dahil po para matulungan ang farmers na tumaas ang bilihan ng palay at umangat naman ang buhay ng mga magsasaka at ma encourage sila muna magtanim,” Llenaresas added.

(Suspending [importation] will help farmers by increasing the price of palay, which will improve the lives of farmers and encourage them to plant.)

Falling global prices have led importers to buy more rice from major suppliers like Vietnam.

In response to a reporter’s speculation that the import ban will cause a shortage and raise prices, Llenares downplayed this concern, stating that local palay production would be adequate during the two-month ban.

“Before nag-announced si President Marcos, pinag-aralan po yan ng economic managers nya. Sinisiguro nila na ang produksyon ng ating mga magsasaka ng palayay sapat na tugunan ang consumption at magkaroon ng access sa bigas ang lahat,” she said.

(Before President Marcos announced the ban, his economic managers studied it. They are ensuring that our rice farmers’ production is sufficient to meet consumption and that everyone has access to rice.)

Llenaresas said that retail prices should not increase immediately as a result of the import restriction, since the country can ensure adequate production and supply.

“Based on DA monitoring, the supply of rice is still very sufficient, not only from the NFA but also from private traders,” she said.

Llenaresas pointed out that September and October are the harvest months for palay in Bicol.

“During these months of harvest season, ayaw ng Pangulong Marcos na mabarat ang ating mga minamahal na magsasaka,” she said.

“Let’s see kung sa mga susunod na weeks tataas pa ang buying price ng private traders,” she added. (PIA Bicol/Masbate)