The Philippines is projected to remain the top global importer of rice in 2024, with an estimated import of 3.8 million tons, mainly from Vietnam. This is due to the country's high rice inflation, which reached a 14-year high of 19.6% in December 2023. As a result, the Department of Agriculture is considering investing at least P1.2 trillion in the rice sector over the next three years, particularly for irrigation and the construction of larger post-harvest facilities.