President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has issued Executive Order No. 93, temporarily suspending the importation of regular milled and well-milled rice for 60 days beginning September 1, 2025, in a bid to stabilize market prices and protect Filipino farmers during the peak harvest season.
The directive, signed on August 29 and released by Malacañang, came following a recommendation from the Department of Agriculture (DA). The DA earlier reported that strong local rice production in early 2025, combined with a surge of imports brought in under reduced tariff rates, had caused a sharp drop in market prices.
According to the EO, the suspension will help ensure that local supply is absorbed by the domestic market, preventing further declines in palay prices and allowing farmers to sell their harvest at a “fair and reasonable price.”
The order clarifies that the suspension does not cover specialty rice varieties not typically produced by local farmers. It will remain effective until October 30, 2025, unless shortened or extended upon the joint recommendation of the DA, the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev), and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
During the suspension period, the DA is tasked to lead and monitor implementation while ensuring the country’s rice supply remains sufficient. The DA, along with DEPDev and DTI, must also evaluate the policy’s impact within 30 days and submit a recommendation to the President on whether the suspension should continue.
The last time that the Philippine government has ordered a blanket suspension of rice importation was during the Duterte administration in 2019, when former President Rodrigo Duterte "temporarily halted rice importations during the local palay harvest season to protect the livelihood of the Filipino farmers from the entry of the imported staple."
The move comes amid mounting concerns from farmers’ groups who have long complained of falling farmgate prices due to cheaper imports.
