Marcos more than doubles corn import quota to 500,000 metric tons

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has issued Executive Order No. 129, raising the Minimum Access Volume (MAV) for corn imports to 500,000 metric tons this year, more than doubling the previous ceiling of 220,000 MT. Executive Secretary Ralph Recto signed the order on authority of the President on October 26, with the directive made public the following day.

The substantial increase in the import quota represents a significant policy shift for the agricultural sector, which has faced recurring supply challenges in recent months. The higher threshold is expected to allow greater flexibility in managing domestic corn availability and supporting local livestock and feed industries that depend on steady supplies.

The move comes as the government continues efforts to address food security and price stability across key agricultural commodities. Officials have indicated that widening import access serves to complement domestic production and prevent supply shortages that could drive up consumer prices.

The import liberalization measure underscores the administration's priority on ensuring adequate food supplies for the nation's growing population and industrial demand, particularly in the animal feed sector which is a major consumer of corn in the Philippines.