The Department of Agriculture (DA) is projecting that the Philippines may need to import as much as 5 million metric tons (MT) of rice in 2026 as the country prepares for the effects of El Niño.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the country would normally require only around 3.8 million to 4 million MT of rice imports for the year. However, the expected impact of El Niño could push import requirements higher.
“Sa 2026, technically, normally, we’d need only 3.8 to 4 million tons. ‘Yan ‘yung ating need. But since we are facing El Niño, we are projecting that we might need to import up to 5 million tons for this year,” Tiu Laurel said Monday during a House Committee on Appropriations hearing on the DA’s proposed 2027 budget.
He said rice imports could decline to around 3.8 million MT in 2027, as the country is already front-loading some of its requirements for the first quarter of next year.
“For next year naman, malamang babalik tayo sa 3.8 kasi nga parang we are already front-loading what we need for the first quarter of 2027,” Tiu Laurel said, adding that the government needs to maintain a buffer of more than 60 days amid increasingly unpredictable weather conditions.
Despite the projected increase in imports, Tiu Laurel said the country is already in a relatively secure position in terms of rice supply for the remainder of 2026.
He said the Philippines had imported about 3.8 million MT of rice as of the previous week, which he said should help meet domestic requirements until the end of the year.
The agriculture chief acknowledged that around 60,000 hectares of agricultural land had been affected by recent weather disturbances but said the ongoing harvest season appeared to be progressing well enough to sustain rice supplies through December.
Meanwhile, the DA estimated that damage and losses to the agriculture sector from various calamities reached P114 billion from 2024 to 2026.
For 2026 alone, production losses were placed at P15.55 billion, affecting around 366,000 farmers and fisherfolk.
To help affected agricultural workers recover from disasters and severe weather, the DA is set to receive funding for its Quick Response Fund (QRF). Tiu Laurel said the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) would be asked to expedite the release of the funds whenever calamities strike.
The QRF will primarily be used for replanting assistance, including the provision of seeds and fertilizer, he said.
Tiu Laurel also said the government is working to shorten the processing time for indemnification payments from the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. (PCIC). Assistance through the Department of Labor and Employment’s TUPAD program may also be provided to affected workers.
The DA has also included P6.7 billion in its funding proposal for measures addressing El Niño and the fuel crisis.
According to Tiu Laurel, half of the amount will be used for fuel subsidies, while the other half will support transportation costs for farmers and fisherfolk bringing their products to markets.
The DA’s proposed budget for 2027 stands at P198.4 billion, about 8% lower than its allocation under the 2026 General Appropriations Act.
The National Irrigation Administration (NIA), meanwhile, has proposed a P233.85-billion budget for 2027, according to NIA Administrator Eduardo Guillen. However, the National Expenditure Program currently provides more than P40 billion for the agency.
On the impact of Pax Silica on farmers, Tiu Laurel said the DA has yet to complete its assessment.
Based on the information available so far, however, he said the effects may be limited to a relatively small number of farmers, particularly those within the affected area in Clark.
“Hindi po tapos ‘yung aming assessment dito, but more or less, from what I understand lang, from what I see on TV, kung it is in sa lupa lang actually ng Clark area na 1,600, mukhang hindi naman ganoon karami ‘yung ma-directly affected na farmer,” he said.
Tiu Laurel said the DA may need another 30 days to complete its assessment of the potential impact of Pax Silica on the agriculture sector.
