The Department of Agriculture (DA) vowed to make rice more affordable and accessible through the expansion of the Rice-for-All program, the opening of additional KADIWA ng Pangulo kiosks in public markets and train stations and partnerships with local government units (LGUs).
DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said among the initiatives include distributing rice at fair prices, such as the P29-per-kilo program for vulnerable sectors with a 10-kilogram (kg) monthly limit.
“We are ensuring that rice reaches every Filipino household at fair and affordable prices, starting with key markets in Metro Manila and, eventually, other regions,” he said.
Under the Rice-for-All program, consumers can purchase rice at P45 per kg for 5-percent broken grains, P40 per kg. for 25-percent broken and P36 per kg. for 100-percent broken.
Rice accounts for about 10 percent of the average Filipino household budget, rising to 20 percent among lower-income households.
To stabilize prices, the DA, in collaboration with the Metro Manila Development Council, engaged LGUs across NCR to sell National Food Authority (NFA) rice at P38 per kg.
This will not only offer an affordable option but also help decongest NFA warehouses ahead of the palay harvest season, the DA said.
It said that starting Jan. 20, 2025, it would enforce a maximum suggested retail price (MSRP) of P58 per kg. for premium imported rice. Initially applied in Metro Manila, the MSRP will be reviewed monthly to reflect global trends, potentially lowering prices further by February.
Importers, traders and retailers will be limited to a P10-per-kg. profit margin under the policy.
Retailers who exceed the MSRP should justify their prices, and the DA, in coordination with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), may recommend imposing price ceilings with strict penalties for non-compliance if prices remain excessively high.
Despite tariff reductions and falling global prices, local rice costs remain inflated.