Former Agriculture Secretary Leonardo “Leony” Montemayor welcomed President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s order to suspend rice importation for 60 days starting September 1, saying the move will help shield Filipino farmers from plunging palay prices during harvest season.
“Tama po ‘yun, ang ginawa ng Presidente,” Montemayor said in a DZRH interview on Special on Saturday (SOS) on August 30.
“We welcome the announcement of the President na itigil muna ang importasyon ng bigas pansamantala para hindi po mababaon lalo sa mababang presyo ang palay ng ating mga magsasaka,” he said.
Montemayor, who headed the Department of Agriculture (DA) from 2001 to 2002, recalled that during his time, only the National Food Authority (NFA) was allowed to import rice.
He explained that imports were deliberately timed to arrive before March or April to avoid overlapping with the harvest season, preventing oversupply and protecting farmers’ incomes.
“Kapag anihan, tulad ngayon, nag-aani na ang mga magsasaka, talagang bababa ang presyo ng palay because of the added supply. ‘Yun po ang reasoning ng ating Pangulo, to protect our farmers and the price of palay, itigil pansamantala itong importasyon ng bigas,” he said.
The former agriculture chief noted that current conditions support the suspension order.
The Department of Agriculture recently reported a record 9.08 million metric tons of palay harvested in the first half of 2025, with another bumper crop expected in July.
He added that NFA stocks, along with reserves held by private traders and farmers, are sufficient to cover demand in the coming months.
Montemayor noted that although rice imports are still legally allowed until August 31, many traders are likely scrambling to bring in shipments ahead of the ban.
“Malamang, medyo marami d’yan ang nag-apura na umangkat simula pa nung inanunsyo ng ating Presidente ang import ban,” he said.
He further criticized the 2019 Rice Tariffication Law, which transferred rice importation entirely to the private sector, stripping the government of control over quantities and timing.
“Our farmers are at the mercy of the import decisions of the private sector. Tama po si Presidente na magkaroon ng import ban, at least during the time of harvest,” Montemayor stressed.
Citing amendments passed in December 2024, Montemayor emphasized that the President now has the legal authority to halt rice imports temporarily to protect farmers.
He noted that raising tariffs back to 35 percent could have been another option but said Marcos chose the import ban instead.
“He has that power now,” Montemayor said, adding that the measure gives farmers a fair chance to sell their harvest at sustainable prices.
