By The Manila Times

THE average farmgate price of dry palay (unmilled rice) rose 33.6 percent in Sept. to P20.84 per kilo from P15.6 per kilo, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed on Wednesday.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. told The Manila Times the sharp year-on-year increase was due to last year’s low comparison point, when farmgate prices declined in the second half of 2025.

“Last year, palay prices collapsed to very low levels and all rice farmers incurred losses during the second half of the year. Thus, the average is low versus this year,” he added.

By region, the Cordillera Administrative Region recorded the largest year-on-year jump in farmgate price of 65.9 percent to P21.22 per kilogram (kg). Month on month, prices fell 3.5 percent.

Cagayan Valley placed second, with dry palay prices up 59.4 percent to P20.55 per kg from P12.89 per kg. Month on month, prices fell by 0.3 percent.

Ilocos Region was third with an increase of 55.0 percent to P22.17 per kg from P15.90 per kg. Month on month, prices fell 5.9 percent.

In Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, palay prices dropped by 3.8 percent to P19.57 per kg from P20.34 per kg.

Calabarzon’s farmgate price, meanwhile, inched up by 0.2 percent to P19.06 per kg from P19.02 per kg.

Mimaropa had the largest decline month on month. Its palay farmgate price fell by 12.6 percent to P18.85 per kg from P21.56 per kg.

By province, Quezon posted the largest year-on-year rise. Its farmgate dry palay price grew 89.5 percent to P22.57 per kg from P11.91 per kg.

Meanwhile, Bohol’s palay prices were the lowest among the provinces, falling -6.4 percent to P20.47 per kg from P21.86 per kg.

Published Date: October 15, 2026