Why time rice imports with local harvest season? Pangilinan smells ‘modus’

MANILA, Philippines — Filipino farmers face the prospect of selling their harvest at a loss as imported rice and other agricultural products enter the country during the local harvest season, Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan said on Tuesday, prompting him to question the government’s enforcement of safeguards meant to protect local producers.

Pangilinan, chair of the Senate committee on agriculture, food and agrarian reform, said the timing of imports could depress farm-gate prices just as farmers bring their crops to the market, benefiting traders at the expense of local growers.

“Imported rice should not have been allowed to enter during the harvest season because whenever that happens, the price of rice drops. They buy it, and it’s sold at a loss. Traders buy it for a pittance, and they’re the ones raking in the huge profits, right?” he said.

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READ: PH rice imports seen at 5.7M MT in 2027—USDA

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He cited the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) 60-day rule, which requires agricultural products to leave their port of origin within 60 days and bars their release in the country during the local harvest season.

“What is clear is, [imported agricultural products] should not be allowed during harvest season, so we will look at the details of this,” Pangilinan said, adding that the DA, under Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., appeared to have violated its own policy.

READ: Pangilinan seeks probe into P700M suspected rice smuggling

He cited a similar case involving onions, saying shipments were still released in December and January despite restrictions intended to protect local growers.

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“There was a policy that they shouldn’t be released during harvest season, but it was still done—a few tons of onions still came in in December, January. That’s against the policy. Well, so far, it seems to be the modus operandi,” he said.

Supply concerns

The DA, however, has maintained that rice imports may be needed to ensure adequate domestic supplies, citing the risk of reduced farm output due to El Niño and extreme heat. It has estimated that palay production could fall by 700,000 to 1 million metric tons, depending on the weather’s impact on local harvests.

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The agency has also authorized fish imports to ensure adequate supplies during a temporary fishing ban. Meat imports remain open, while the DA has proposed increasing pork tariffs to protect local hog raisers amid declining farm-gate prices.

Pangilinan said the Senate would examine whether importation decisions and the enforcement of existing rules were consistent with the government’s responsibility to protect local producers while maintaining sufficient food supplies.

He also said the committee report on its earlier hearings into widespread agricultural smuggling, which allegedly involved high-ranking government officials, would be released soon.

“With all due respect to those in the government—when they say cartel, a cartel cannot exist without collusion with some people in the government,” he said, calling for scrutiny of possible links between smugglers and public officials.

Pangilinan also plans to investigate nearly P700 million worth of suspected smuggled rice shipments intercepted at the ports of Davao and Limay, Bataan, last month. The inquiry is expected to begin in the first week of November.

The Philippine Navy intercepted the MV Tay Son 2, carrying 12,500 metric tons of rice, after it allegedly attempted to leave the Port of Davao without completing the required Customs processing.

Authorities also apprehended the MV Lucky Star at the Port of Limay after finding that its import permit did not match the actual contents of its shipment. The vessel was carrying nearly 7,500 metric tons of rice.

The two vessels were believed to be carrying a combined 20,000 metric tons of Vietnamese rice, valued at around P700 million based on a world market price of $420 per metric ton.

No big fish jailed

Pangilinan lamented that no major smugglers had been jailed despite the passage of Republic Act No. 12022, or the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act, which classifies agricultural economic sabotage involving at least P10 million worth of products as a nonbailable offense.

The law strengthens measures against agricultural smuggling, hoarding, profiteering and cartel operations. Pangilinan said he had coordinated with the Department of Justice, DA, National Bureau of Investigation and Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Council regarding the seized shipments.

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The council is mandated to coordinate investigations and expedite the prosecution of those responsible, including government officials found to have participated in illegal activities. —With a report from Jordeene Lagare