MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the Philippines may be forced to import more rice in 2024, citing massive losses suffered by the country’s agricultural sector from recent calamities.

“In terms of food security we're all right, but marami talagang nasisira. Ang dami nang nasira na palayan, ang dami nang nasira na tanim. We'll just have to compensate for that dahil anong-- we just came out of El Niño na although during the El Niño time we had the highest production pa rin for that season. Pero ito talagang sinisira talaga yung tanim so that's going to be something that requires attention,” Marcos Jr. told the media following the meeting of the NDRRMC Council in Camp Aguinaldo Friday afternoon.

The Philippine leader said rice importation may reach close to 4.5 million tons, higher than 2023’s 3.9 million tons.

“I just received a report from the DA. Mukhang madadagdagan ang importation natin. We will import close to 4.5 million tons. Nag-3.9 last year. Ang upper estimate is 4.5,” he said.

Marcos however noted that the price of imported rice has gone down significantly since last year.

“We are not in competition like during the El Niño period. During the El Niño period tinamaan lahat ng ASEAN countries kaya tumaas ang presyo kasi lahat namimili. Dito, dahil siniswerte tayo, tayo lang ang tinatamaan, tinamaan tayo so we're not competing. So the prices are staying at about 400+ 400 dollars per ton so that's still-- so our imported rice should be at that price. Titingnan natin,” he said.