The Philippines, among the world's largest rice importers, declared on Monday a food security emergency to bring down the cost of rice, which it said has stayed elevated despite lower global prices and a reduction in rice tariffs last year.

The Philippines yesterday declared a food security emergency in order to bring down the price of rice, which officials said have remained high despite last year’s cuts to the tariffs on imported rice.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Monday declared a food security emergency for rice due to an “extraordinary” spike in rice prices in the country. The declaration, under Department Circular No. 3,

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. on Monday declared a food security emergency on rice due to “extraordinary” rice in local rice prices.