THE Department of Agriculture (DA) said it ordered the creation of a technical working group (TWG) to study a more data-driven approach to importing rice in a manner that will managing supply and prices effectively while protecting farmer interests.

In a statement on Monday, the DA said it is working to finalize rice import policies by May to lay the groundwork for a more structured scheme of rice importing in 2026.

The DA said the TWG will be tasked with making recommendations on volume, timing, and distribution of rice imports, guided by data on regional supply levels and inventory.

According to the DA, the TWG will be composed of representatives from the DA’s Office of the Undersecretary for Rice Industry Development, Food Terminal, Inc., the Philippine Rice Industry Stakeholders Movement, and the Philippine Rice Importers Association.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. was quoted in the statement as saying that the TWG deliver policy recommendations within weeks.

The DA said the group is also expected to study mechanisms to ensure that imports do not disrupt the harvest or depress farmgate prices.

“Initial import volumes for May will remain ‘simple,’ but more complex mechanisms — such as linking import participation to purchases from local farmers — are firmly on the table for later in the year, potentially after the wet season,” the DA said.

The da said it will also impose stricter reporting requirements for rice inventories, noting that only a limited number of registered warehouses are currently compliant.

Traders and warehouse operators that fail to submit inventory data could lose their eligibility to import rice, the DA said.

“By aligning import timing with verified market needs and enforcing compliance across traders and millers, the DA aims to curb speculative behavior that distorts prices at the farm gate. For consumers, the payoff is steadier supply and fewer price spikes,” the DA said. — Vonn Andrei E. Villamiel