Although the Philippines in 2023 achieved its highest palay harvest since 1987, it was the world’s largest rice importer last year, according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Claim: In his third State of the Nation Address on Monday, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said the country experienced its highest palay harvest in 2023, reaching approximately 20 million metric tons, the largest since 1987.
Rating: Needs Context
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. declared in his third State of the Nation Address on Monday that the country experienced its highest palay harvest in 2023, reaching approximately 20 million metric tons, the largest since 1987.
“Nasaksihan natin ang pinakamataas na ani ng palay sa bansa nitong nakalipas na taon, pumalo ito sa lagpas 20 milyong tonelada, ang pinakamataas na ani mula noong 1987,” Marcos said.
This figure is accurate, with Department of Agriculture data showing palay production last year reached 20.06 million metric tons, the highest-ever harvest of the Philippines’ national staple, aided by favorable weather conditions in the last quarter of 2023.
However, Marcos omitted the fact that the country was the “world’s largest rice importer” in 2023 according to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).
The USDA also projects that the Philippines would remain the world’s largest rice importer in 2024.
Marcos Jr. did acknowledge the insufficiency in domestic production, noting the Philippines was 3 million tons short of self-sufficiency, necessitating rice imports.
A congressional report released in 2023 showed that the country imported about 3.8 million metric tons to augment the 13.43 million metric tons of local production. Marco Luis D. Beech