Jekki Pascual, ABS-CBN News

MANILA — The Department of Agriculture is considering a price cap on rice as the ongoing conflict in the Middle East pushes up fuel prices.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, Jr. said the agency will discuss the proposal of putting a maximum price first on imported rice, then possibly followed by local rice.

“Pag-aaralan namin moving forward kung pwede ba mag-impose ng price cap sa sitwasyon ngayon para di mapektuhan ang palay,” Laurel told reporters on the sidelines of an event of the Asian Development Bank. He said they are looking at a ceiling of P50 per kilo for well-milled rice.

He noted that the price of the rice has risen in the past months due to low supply and due to the import ban a few months ago. But he added that the harvest season has started, which means that rice prices could stabilize.

“Luckily, naman ang kasagsagan ng ating harvest season is starting today actually up to hanggang end of April. Marami tayo harvest. So there’s a chance ma temper rises in prices at baka may chance pa bumaba ng konti,” he said.

Laurel, however, admitted receiving reports of retailers of imported rice already hiking prices. He said some of the reports come from Cebu.

“Kung hindi tumino mga importer dyan sa Cebu at mataas pa rin benta nila, gagawin ko na lang kami na lang magbebenta sa Cebu, kami na mag iimport, kami na magbebenta. Yung mga importer doon, wala na sila ibebenta,” he said.

He added that DA has already started buying rice from local importers and selling rice at P45-48/ kilo. This is initially being done in Metro Manila and may also sell this to the provinces in the weeks to come.

The government will also continue with its assistance program for farmers and fisherfolk amid the conflict in the Middle East. Aside from fuel subsidies, he said 4 million agri beneficiaries are covered by the government’s P10 billion assistance program.

“About P2,350 yan per rice farmer na 2 hectare below, corn farmers, fisherfolk na motorized banca na almost 300,000, tapos sugar farmers,” he said.

Published Date: March 16, 2026