By Stephanie Sevillano, Philippine News AgencyMANILA – The government will extend the current two-month rice import ban for at least 30 more days to cushion the impact of plunging farmgate prices of palay (unhusked rice), the Department of Agriculture (DA) announced Monday. Tiu Laurel said the ban could even last until the end of the year, depending on market conditions. “It has been decided to extend the import ban for at least 30 days, and it is even possible to extend it until the end of the year,” he said in an ambush interview, adding similar calls from rice millers and traders. That’s why, since over the weekend, nagtatrabaho lahat ng DA, NFA (National Food Authority), even the President, magkasama kami (everyone has been working –DA, NFA, even the President– together since Friday and Saturday),” he said. Among the measures to address the low buying price of palay is prohibiting government agencies from purchasing imported rice.