Manila: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has instructed relevant agencies to assess the potential effects of the extended rice import ban on the supply and pricing of the nation’s staple food. The Department of Agriculture (DA), the Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DEPDev), and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) have been tasked to convene within 30 days from the implementation of Executive Order (EO) 102, signed by Marcos on October 30, to evaluate the consequences of halting rice importation.

According to Philippines News Agency, EO 102 mandates that the DA, DEPDev, and DTI submit a collective recommendation to the President, via the Executive Secretary, within 15 days following their assessment. The executive order extends the suspension of regular milled and well-milled rice importation until December 31, 2025, while exempting specialty rice varieties that are not typically grown by local farmers.

The executive order specifies that the importation period for regular and well-milled rice may be altered as necessary, based on the joint recommendation of the DA, DEPDev, and DTI. President Marcos’s decision to prolong the rice import ban until the end of 2025 was influenced by the three agencies’ recommendation to offer ongoing protection to local farmers from the price pressures of imported rice, maintain market stability, and safeguard consumer welfare.

The suspension order, aimed at enabling local farmers to sell their palay (unhusked rice) at fair and reasonable prices while stabilizing the market supply and prices, was originally set to expire on October 31. EO 102, publicly disclosed on Tuesday, is effective immediately upon its publication in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation.