MANILA -- The Philippines imported 4.68 million metric tons of rice in 2024, according to official data from the Department of Agriculture's (DA) Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI).

Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa, the DA spokesperson, noted that the surge in rice imports was due to several factors.

"Una mababa yung lokal na production. Nagkaroon ng mababang taripa isang factor din yun. Pangalawa dahil mababa na yung taripa tapos mahigpit matindi yung mga aksyon natin sa smuggling. Nawala ang insentibo para magsmuggle pa ng bigas sa ating bansa," de Mesa said.

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(First, local production is low. The lower tariffs is another factor. The lower tariffs, along with how how strict our authorities became, was a disincentive against smuggling.)

Despite the flood of imported rice, De Mesa dismissed concerns about its impact on the local market, stating that the imports were necessary to compensate for the domestic production shortfall. 

"Makikita natin bagamat tumaas yung importasyon nung 2024 malaki naman yung binaba ng lokal na produksyon. From last year na 2023 nag 20.06, bumaba siya ng 19.3 million metric tons. So very significant yung reduction and yung import of course compensated dun sa losses natin," he said.

(We can see that while importation increased, local production fell. From last year's 20.6 million metric tons, it fell to 19.3 million metric tons. So the reduction was significant and the importation compensated for our losses.)

Looking ahead, the DA is optimistic about a rebound in local rice production in 2025.

"We're hoping na makakabawi ang rice sub sector ngayong taon dahil wala nang 3l Niño. Ang projection, we will go back sa 20 million metric tons level ng local rice production.

Regarding the suggested retail price (SRP) for rice, de Mesa stated that the current initial estimate for 5 percent broken rice is P60 per kilogram. However, he hinted at a potential decrease due to fluctuations in international market prices and exchange rates. 

For 25 percent broken rice, prices are expected to stay below ₱50 per kilogram, with P46 to P47 being a possibility.

The DA also reported more than 40 percent increase in red onion production last year, as the agency refrained from issuing additional import permits for red onions.

Meanwhile, tomato prices may remain high until the end of January, reflecting current market conditions.

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