President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered the suspension of rice importation for 60 days starting September 1 to aid the local farmers.

The president made this decision during a meeting with some members of his Cabinet during the sideline of his state visit to India.

On the other hand, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Sec. Dave Gomez said the president believes it is not yet time to discuss tariff increases on imported rice. 

"We will still see if we need to resort to that. Right now the decision is to suspend all rice importation for 60 days beginning Sept. 1. Yan po ang utos ng ating mahal na pangulo para matulungan ang ating mga magsasaka ng bigas," said Gomez. 

Aside from Sec. Galvez, the meeting was joined by Finance Secretary Ralph Recto, Agriculture Secretary Francis Tiu-Laurel and Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs Sec. Frederick Go.

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