The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Friday assured local farmers that the entry of Pakistani rice into the Philippine market will be carefully regulated, stressing that import volumes will be kept within actual supply needs despite the government’s expanding trade ties.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. gave the assurance following a high-level meeting that paved the way for the Philippines to allow rice imports from Pakistan after the lifting of restrictions on rice importation.
Tiu Laurel said rice imports will be “calibrated” and guided by projected supply gaps based on the most recent palay and rice harvests.
“The Philippines welcomes Pakistani rice, but we will limit imports strictly to what the country needs. We will not over-import; food security comes first,” the DA chief said.
He emphasized that rice self-sufficiency remains a core priority of the Marcos Jr. administration, supported by programs to boost local production, address weather-related disruptions, respond to rising demand, and tackle long-standing structural issues in palay production.
The DA disclosed that Pakistan proposed the rice trade arrangement after reporting surplus production, at a time when the Philippines was reviewing options to diversify its rice import sources to avoid “overdependence” on a single supplier.
Despite the opening of new import channels, Tiu Laurel underscored that imported rice will only serve as a buffer. “Imported rice will remain a supplement and not a substitute” for locally produced rice, he said.
He added that the move reflects the government’s broader push to deepen international trade ties in pursuit of food security. “This is about widening our engagement with countries that are not necessarily our near neighbors, in the spirit of world trade and cooperation,” Tiu Laurel said.
As part of the discussions, the agriculture chief also revealed that Pakistan has expressed interest in importing Philippine agricultural products, including coconuts, seaweeds, fish, and other commodities. TRACY CABRERA