Philippines declares food security emergency for rice

The Philippines’ Department of Agriculture (DA) has declared a food security emergency for rice in response to a sharp increase in domestic rice prices.

The declaration, issued on February 3, empowers the National Food Authority (NFA) to release rice buffer stocks, aiming to stabilize prices and ensure the continued availability of rice for consumers, said DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. in a statement.

The emergency measure follows recommendations from the National Price Coordinating Council (NPCC) in light of the significant rise in local rice prices.

The latest report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA) projected that the Philippines imported 4.7 million tons of rice in 2024, a 2.2% increase from previous estimates. The country is expected to remain the world’s top rice importer in both 2024 and 2025, driven by high domestic demand and limited local production.

The USDA also predicted a sharp rise in global rice imports in 2025, fueled by growing demand from African and Asian nations.

As of October 3, 2024, the Philippines had imported 3.29 million tons of rice, with Vietnam being the largest supplier, providing 2.61 million tons, a majority of the total imports.