MANILA — Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan welcomed the government’s move to extend the rice import ban until the end of the year, calling it a timely intervention to protect local farmers amid rising fuel costs and global market instability.

“Bukod [sa…] pagsuporta sa mga lokal na magsasaka, pagpapatatag ng market, at pagtatasa ng epekto sa patakaran, napapanahon ang rice import ban extension (Beyond supporting local farmers and stabilizing the market, the extension comes at a crucial time),” Pangilinan said.

“Muling tumataas ang mga presyo ng krudo, at pinatataas din nito ang gastos sa produksyon at transportasyon sa sakahan (at pangingisda). Kaya sa pagprotekta sa mga pakinabang ng mga magsasaka, kailangan ng real-time na mga desisyon na batay sa data (With fuel prices rising again, and fuel being a major component of farm production and transport costs, protecting farmers’ gains will require real-time, data-driven decisions),” he added.

The senator said the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) planned Command Center, set to be operational this month, will make the rice sector more adaptive and responsive. The facility will allow for data-based policy adjustments, including dynamic palay floor pricing, targeted subsidy delivery, efficient National Food Authority (NFA) stock management, and transparent public information systems.

Pangilinan also reiterated his call through Adopted Senate Resolution No. 29 for Malacañang to restore the tariff on imported rice to 35 percent from the current 15 percent to “empower local rice producers, restore government revenues, and ensure equitable benefits across the value chain.”

“Importers at traders lang ang nakikinabang sa mababang taripa (Low tariffs benefit only importers and traders),” he said, noting that Executive Order No. 62 reduced farmgate prices to ₱7.66 per kilo—well below the ₱13.51 cost of production.

“Mababawi ang hanggang ₱47 billion sa nawalang kita pag tinaas muli ang taripa hanggang 35 percent. Mapupunta ang pondo sa pagtulong sa ating mga magpapalay sa pamamagitan ng Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (Raising the tariff back to 35 percent can recover up to ₱47 billion in lost revenues. These funds should go to helping our farmers through the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund),” he added.

Pangilinan said restoring the tariff rate, alongside Executive Orders 100 and 101—which strengthen palay floor prices and enforce the Sagip Saka Act in government procurement—would ensure a “coherent policy package” that rewards farmers fairly, stabilizes prices for consumers, and builds resilience against future shocks.

“Sa pabago-bagong panahon, pinakamahusay na depensa ang self-sufficiency, lalong-lalo na sa pagkain. Dapat kumilos bilang isa ang gobyerno, magsasaka, mamimili, at pribadong sektor para protektahan ang mga nagpapakain sa atin, at matiyak na kumakain ng sapat ang bawat Pilipino (In times of economic turbulence, food self-sufficiency is national security. The government, farmers, consumers, and the private sector must act together to protect those who feed us and ensure that every Filipino can afford to eat),” Pangilinan said.