Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. emphasized the need for a gradual increase in rice import tariffs to minimize the impact on staple prices. This comes in response to a House committee recommendation to revert the rate to 35 percent from the current 15 percent, which was reduced last year to lower rice prices. The duty is set to be in effect until 2028 but undergoes review every four months.

Tiu Laurel highlighted that a sudden tariff hike by the Philippines, one of the largest rice importers globally, would have significant repercussions on both local and global rice prices. He proposed a gradual increase back to the 35-percent duty to prevent market shocks.

The government has implemented various measures, such as a maximum suggested retail price for imports and direct selling of rice at reduced prices in public markets, to counter criticisms that the reduced import tariff did not lower domestic rice prices. The Department of Agriculture (DA) claimed that these efforts have successfully reduced rice prices and contributed to lower inflation rates.

Despite a recent uptick in global rice prices, the DA plans to further decrease the MSRP on imported rice by P2 per kilo to P43 starting July, citing declining global prices and reduced tariffs. Tiu Laurel suggested retaining the 15-percent tariff for now, considering the end of the harvest season in both the Philippines and rice-exporting countries.

He reiterated the need for gradual tariff increases, proposing to time the hikes with the harvest seasons of major suppliers like Vietnam and Pakistan to minimize the impact on the local market. Nueva Ecija Rep. Rossana Vergara advocated for higher tariffs to protect local farmers, amid increased scrutiny of the 2019 Rice Tariffication Law that was amended to enhance the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund allocations.