Manila, Feb. 10 -- The Department of Agriculture (DA) said it is crafting a measure for quantitative restrictions on rice importers to ensure support to local rice producers.

The move comes as the agency awaits the enactment of the proposed Rice Industry and Consumer Empowerment (RICE) Act.

In an ambush interview on the sidelines of the induction of the new officers of the Economic Journalists Association (EJAP) Monday night, DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the quantitative restriction will help ensure local investments in the local rice industry.

"Basically, you have to invest in the local industry. You have to buy palay (unhusked rice) or bigas (rice) in order to get an import allocation. That's the general idea at the mom...