Philippines’ Department of Agriculture Sees a Downward Trend in Rice Prices in Metro Manila Markets

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ByJi-hyun

Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary for Consumer Affairs Genevieve Velicaria-Guevarra, House Speaker Martin Romualdes, ACT-CIS Party-list Representative Erwin Tulfo, and DTI and Philippine Rice Industry Stakeholders Movement (PRISM) officials observed a downward trend in rice prices during their visit to several key markets in Metro Manila.

The officials visited markets such as Guadalupe Market, Farmers Market, and Nepa Q Mart where well-milled rice was available for as low as PHP 45 per kilo.

“One of the factors was the reduction of tariff from 35% to 15%. Retailers and consumers are very happy with this development as they can look forward to rice around PHP 42 to 45 per kilo,” said Orly Manuntag of PRISM, a large group of rice traders in the Philippines.

House Speaker Martin Romualdez also welcomed this positive development and emphasized that food security has always been a top priority of the Marcos administration.

On the other hand, DA Assistant Secretary Genevieve Velicaria-Guevarra noted that under the leadership of Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr., additional farm inputs have been provided to increase production and eventually lower the prices of other basic commodities by next year.

Last July, DA Spokesperson Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa cited President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s Executive Order 62 which cut tariff rates on rice from 35% to 15% and stated that the public may start to feel lower rice retail prices as imported rice with lower tariffs start coming in around August.

Additionally, the DA launched the PHP 29 Rice Program in July. A trial initiative, the program allowed vulnerable sectors such as senior citizens, single parents, persons with disabilities, and Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), to purchase rice at PHP 29 per kilo.

Due to the success of the trial program, the “Rice-for-All” program was introduced in August at selected Kadirwa sites to provide Filipinos access to affordable rice available to the general public at PHP 45 per kilo.

Hailing from California, USA. Ji-hyun is a Korean American 🇰🇷🇺🇸 with two growing boys who eat their weight in rice each week. After graduating UCLA & becoming a mom she started We Know Rice as a guide for all the students and moms out there looking to cook healthy and filling meals.