60-day rice import halt seen to spare Negros Occidental

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD CITY — Negros Occidental will not be affected by the 60-day suspension of rice importation starting Sept. 1, 2025, according to Engr. Jose Albert Barrogo, regional director of the Department of Agriculture–Negros Island Region.

Barrogo said the province has an 86 percent rice sufficiency rate and, when needed, can source additional supply from Panay.

He attributed this sufficiency to the province’s high yield in rice production, averaging 3.94 metric tons per hectare in the first half of 2025 — the highest in Western Visayas.

With 86 percent of its rice needs met locally, the province is less dependent on external sources, Barrogo added.

The province’s rice harvest season begins in August, with peak harvest expected from September to October.

Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson earlier expressed support for the suspension, which was ordered by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

“I believe the purpose of the order is to protect our farmers,” Lacson said.

He noted that palay buying prices have dropped and stressed the need to manage the country’s rice supply carefully.

“I support the President’s decision because it puts our farmers first, rather than the interests of traders,” he added.

Lacson also said that if rice prices rise too much, importation would likely resume.

Local farmers hope the suspension will help raise palay prices from the current PHP14 to PHP15 per kilo to PHP20 to PHP30 per kilo.

The suspension aims to protect Filipino farmers by managing rice supply during the peak harvest season.