SEN. Francis Pangilinan on Wednesday opposed a proposed deal to import rice from the United States, urging the government to focus instead on lowering domestic production costs to make rice more affordable while protecting Filipino farmers’ livelihoods.
Pangilinan, chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food and Agrarian Reform, said the potentially higher procurement and transportation costs of importing American rice should be carefully scrutinized for their possible impact on the domestic market.
“Why import rice from the United States if shipping costs are higher? Who will benefit, and who will shoulder the additional expenses? Will consumers end up paying for them again?” he said.
Pangilinan, who is set to lead next week’s budget hearing for the Department of Agriculture (DA) and its attached agencies, said expanding sources of imported rice should not take precedence over addressing longstanding problems faced by local rice producers, particularly high production costs.
The proposed import arrangement stems from a memorandum of understanding between the Philippine Rice Industry Stakeholders Movement and USA Rice, which targets purchases of 100,000 metric tons in 2027 and 200,000 metric tons annually beginning in 2028.
The import plan aims to help bridge the country’s rice production shortfall and maintain adequate supplies.
Pangilinan acknowledged that the Philippines needs to import rice to meet domestic demand, but the government must do more to reduce the costs of planting, harvesting, drying and milling locally produced palay.
“Our production is not yet sufficient to meet the needs of the entire country, so we still need to import. But while we address the shortfall, the government should pay closer attention to reducing the costs of planting, harvesting, drying and milling our own palay,” he said.
“When farmers’ production costs per kilo of palay are lower, they can take home more income. More efficient drying, milling and transport to markets can also help us deliver affordable rice to consumers,” he added.
