Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu-Laurel Jr. (PNA file photo)
MANILA – The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Wednesday urged rice industry stakeholders in Vietnam to "rethink" plans against the Philippines over its impending 60-day rice import ban.
This came after the local rice industry reportedly requested the Vietnamese government to file a complaint against the Philippines in the World Trade Organization (WTO), considering the effects of the two-month import halt starting Sept. 1.
In an interview, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the administration is merely implementing a "protective measure" for local palay (unhusked rice) farmers amid the approaching wet harvest season.
The local palay harvest is set to begin in September and peak in October.
"It's not the government. But my message or the warning to the local industry, huwag namang ganyan, dalawang buwan na lang naman (don't be like that, it's just for two months)," he said at the sidelines of the House of Representatives committee on agriculture hearing.
"Sana mag-isip din sila (We hope they will also think this through). We are just doing what we need to do to protect our farmers."
The DA earlier said the country has a high volume of rice inventory, a bulk of which consists of imported rice stocks, contributing to the decline in farmgate prices of palay.
The Philippines also secured a record-high palay harvest in the first semester of the year, reaching over 9.077 million metric tons (MT).
Tiu-Laurel said the government may even extend the import ban to 90 days once the harvest season peaks.
"Kapag kasagsagan ng harvest, may chance na bumaba na naman ang palay (During the peak of harvest, there's a chance farmgate prices will plunge). And if you extend it, then we might see an increase or ma-maintain 'yung price ng palay (maintain the palay prices)," he said.
"That's why we might restrict the supply of imported rice longer if necessary, para nga bilhin ng Pilipino iyong local rice natin tsaka 'yung bagong harvest natin (so that Filipinos will buy our local rice and our newly harvested rice)."
The agriculture chief, however, assured that the Philippines may opt for alternative sources of imported rice if relations with Vietnam's industry deteriorate.
"Ang power naman natin unfortunately is tayo ang pinakamalaking market ngayon sa rice. So, kung ganyan lang magiging relasyon natin (Our power is that, unfortunately, we are currently the biggest market for rice. So, if that will be our relationship with them), I'd rather buy rice from another source," Tiu-Laurel said.
Among the possible suppliers are India, Myanmar, and Cambodia.
"In India, I met with the industry and they want to take a big share of the Vietnamese market," Tiu Laurel said, noting that Vietnam accounts for 75 percent of the almost 4.8 million metric tons of rice import arrivals in 2024.
"Marami namang gustong mag-supply sa atin ng bigas kasi (We have many potential suppliers because) we are able to buy and pay a good price for rice." (PNA)
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