By Darryl John Esguerra.

MANILA – Prices of rice and pork are expected to further go down within the month, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said Wednesday.

In a press briefing, Castro said Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. reported the anticipated price cut in rice and pork during a meeting in Malacañang.

Quoting Tiu Laurel’s report, Castro said rice prices will go down to PHP45 per kg. by March 31, down from its current PHP49/kg. average.

Meanwhile, pork prices are also seen to decrease, with certain cuts such as kasim (shoulder) and pigue (leg) potentially falling to between PHP350 to PHP360/kg. by March 10.

Liempo or pork belly prices, meanwhile, are projected to decrease to PHP380/kg.

The Palace attributed the decrease in the price of rice to changes in the world prices.

“Sa ngayon po, ang sabi po ni Secretary Laurel ay bumaba po ang world price. Kung nagkakaroon po kasi ng pagtaas talaga ng bigas, ito po ay … ang nagiging basehan, ang one of the factors dito ay iyong world price (Secretary Tiu Laurel Jr. says that world price has decreased. If there is really a change in rice prices, one of the factors here is the world price),” Castro said. (PNA)

Published Date: March 5, 2025