Former Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol is blaming the economic managers during the administration of former President Rodrigo Dutert for the strike of rice inflation in the country.

In an interview with DZRH's Balansyado on Wednesday, Piñol said that the government planned to flood the country with imported rice because of the theory that the price would decrease.

"Ang ating dependence ngayon sa imported rice 30 percent. Ibig sabihin, 30 percent ng total ng supply ng bigas sa Pilipinas galing sa imported na bigas, Vietnaman at Thailand. Noong ako ang DA, less than 10% ang ating dependence on importation," Piñol said.

"Ang talagang dapat sisihin dito ang mga author ng Rice Tarrification Law na hindi nakinig sa payo ng eksperto: na wag tambakan ng imported na bigas ang palengke ng Pilipinas sapagkat mawawalan ng gana ang ating mga magsasaka na magtanim," he added.

The former Secretary also said that his previous statement that the Philippines' excessive dependence on imports may lead to a rice crisis, has already happened, adding that the farmers are the ones who will suffer.

"Ang hindi nila naisip ang pagbaha ng bigas sa palengke ay magreresulta sa panlulumo ng ating mga local farmers na maaring hindi na magtanim sapagkat hindi nila kayang tapatan yung presyong mura na imported," Piñol said.

"Well, pwede tayong manisi eh, pero hindi na panahon ngayon para magsisihan," he said.

Piñol suggested to look for areas in the country where rice can be planted, even upland rice, as he gave an example where they conducted on Tuesday an orientation on how to plant upland rice.

"Mayroong available na binhi yung Seedworks Philippines na pwedeng pang upland, pwede mong itanim maski walang iregasyon," he said.