About 40 percent of the total 10,000 big and small rice-milling operations in the country have stopped their operations after experiencing the negative impacts of the implementation of a new rice regime including the tremendous decrease in the price of locally-produced palay or unhusked rice, the industry said.

Such milling facilities were those located in major rice-producing provinces like Nueva Ecija, Isabela, Mindoro and Panay Islands, Joji Co, president of the Philippine Confederation of Grains Associations, said at the sidelines of the launching of “Masaganang Ani 300” and “Support Local Farmers” on Monday in Quezon City.