The Department of Agriculture (DA) has expressed a positive outlook for the recovery of local palay production in 2025, following a challenging year marked by natural disasters. In a recent statement, DA spokesperson Arnel De Mesa projected that rice production would rebound to 20 million metric tons, a significant recovery from the setbacks caused by El Niño, typhoons, and the eruption of Mt. Kanlaon in 2024.
De Mesa highlighted that a strong local production would lead to a decrease in rice imports, which reached a record high of 4.68 million metric tons by the end of 2024. He emphasized the government’s focus on enhancing local production, supported by the amended Rice Tariffication Law (RTL), which extends until 2031. The law has increased the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) to PHP30 billion, tripling the previous allocation.
The RCEF will allocate PHP15 billion for farmer support programs including training, financial assistance, credit, soil improvement, and irrigation projects. An additional PHP9 billion is designated for farm mechanization, while PHP6 billion will be used to provide high-quality rice seeds.
Furthermore, the DA is set to launch the Agri-puhunan at Pangtawid program in February, aiming to support 100,000 farmers through a comprehensive funding and insurance mechanism, coupled with contract farming opportunities. This initiative underscores the government’s commitment to bolstering local agriculture and reducing reliance on imports.