MANILA – Senator Imee Marcos has filed a resolution seeking an investigation into the alleged questionable importation of millions of sacks of rice by Planters Products, Inc. (PPI), a government-managed company under the Department of Agriculture.

Marcos introduced PS Resolution No. 392 on Monday, May 11, calling for a formal probe into what she described as questionable rice import transactions involving PPI.

“Nasa P90 milyon lang ang tinatayang kita ng PPI noong 2024, kaya paano ito nakapag-import ng halos P2 bilyong halaga ng bigas? Malinaw na ginagamit at inaabuso ang PPI upang pagkakitaan ang importasyon!” mariing pahayag ng senador.

Based on reports cited in the resolution, PPI allegedly imported about 1,723,680 sacks of rice in three separate batches. These included 255,000 sacks from India in April 2025, another 200,000 sacks from India in July 2025, and 1,268,680 sacks from Vietnam, Thailand, and Myanmar in January 2026.

The reports also noted that an additional 1,545,000 sacks of rice from India are expected to arrive, according to the Federation of Free Farmers.

Marcos warned that the alleged large-scale importation could affect local farmers, citing declining palay prices.

“Dahil sa kagarapalan ng mga opisyal na ito, bagsak ang presyo ng lokal na palay at gutom ang aabutin ng ating 2.4 milyong magsasaka. Nasa P16 hanggang P17 kada kilo na lamang ang farmgate price ng palay! Ano ba naman kayo?” panangis ng senador.

The resolution seeks to determine whether PPI is being used as a channel for government rice importation despite restrictions on the National Food Authority under the Rice Tariffication Law.

It also raises questions on the alleged absence of public bidding, which Marcos said may violate the Government Procurement Reform Act.

“Ang mandato ng DA ay tulungan ang lokal na produksyon, hindi magsilbing ahente ng dayuhang bigas. Ano na ba talaga ang PPI? GOCC pa rin ba o pribadong kumpanya na?” pagtatapos ng senador.