By TED CORDERO, GMA Integrated News.

In a move to bring down the retail prices of the Filipino grain staple, the Department of Agriculture (DA) is reducing further the prices of rice varieties being sold under its KADIWA ng Pangulo’s Rice-for-All (RFA) initiative as well as the maximum suggested retail price (MSRP) of imported rice.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said in a statement Tuesday that starting February 12, rice prices under the RFA will be slashed, reflecting “both a drop in global rice prices and an increase in domestic supply as the local harvest season gets underway.”

Tiu Laurel said RFA prices will be brought down by as much as P3 per kilo.

With this, beginning February 12, the RFA5 rice will be priced at P43 per kilo, RFA25 at P35, and RFA100 at P33.

Currently, RFA5—comprising rice with no more than 5% broken grains—is sold at P45 per kilo, RFA25 (25% broken) at P38 a kilo, and RFA100 (100% broken) at P36 per kilo.

The Agriculture chief said the KADIWA ng Pangulo program will continue to provide rice at P29 per kilo for vulnerable groups such as senior citizens, persons with disabilities, solo parents, and individuals from indigent sectors.

Tiu Laurel also reassured local farmers that the National Food Authority (NFA) will procure palay from local farms at a price of P21–P23 per kilo, ensuring fair compensation for their harvests.

He said the NFA has sufficient funding to support farmers and uphold its mandated rice buffer stock, now equivalent to 15 days of national consumption under the revised Rice Tariffication Law.

Lower MSRP

To further stabilize the rice market, Tiu Laurel said the MSRP for imported rice and its coverage expanded nationwide.

Beginning February 15, the MSRP will be lowered to P52 per kilo from P55 a kilo, and reduced further to P49 by March 1.

“This gradual approach aims to mitigate potential market disruptions,” he said.

The price reductions align with global trends in the rice market, as well as President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s decision in July to slash rice tariffs from 35% to 15%, according to the DA chief.

Tiu Laurel added that the President’s economic managers will soon review Executive Order 62 to assess whether rice tariffs need to be adjusted.

He said, however, that he is only inclined to recommend a revision of the current tariff level if retail prices of imported rice ease to the P42-P45 per kilo range.

Pork prices, too?

Aside from rice, Tiu Laurel said the DA is also looking implementing an MSRP on pork to address an excessive gap between farm-gate and retail prices. He described retail pork prices of P400 per kilo or higher as “unreasonable.”

He said a decision regarding the possible imposition of an MSRP for pork is expected by the end of February, with the aim of curbing profiteering.

“We are conducting a thorough analysis of the pork value chain,” the DA chief said. “If evidence of profiteering emerges, we will not hesitate to institute an MSRP for pork.”

Currently, the farm-gate price of hogs stands at P240–P250 per kilogram. — VDV, GMA Integrated News

Published Date: February 11, 2025