The Department of Agriculture (DA) said Thursday domestic rice prices remain stable and are unlikely to spike as import shipments resume and local supply levels stay sufficient.
DA assistant secretary Arnel De Mesa told a media briefing that prices for both local and imported grains have shown minimal movement.
The stability is supported by strong local production and higher inventory levels reported by the Philippine Statistics Authority.
Regular-milled local rice is priced at about P40 per kilogram, while well-milled local rice averages P45 per kg. Imported regular-milled rice is selling for about P42 per kg. and well-milled imported rice ranges from P46 to P47 per kg.
The agency expects price stability to be sustained if domestic production reaches the projected 20.3 million metric tons this year.
The target is backed by increased allocations under the 2026 General Appropriations Act, which includes P30 billion for the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund and additional funding for national rice programs.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the government is considering raising the maximum suggested retail price of imported rice to P45 per kg from P43. The potential adjustment follows global price pressures, a weak peso and a 20-percent tariff set to take effect Jan. 16.
Rice importation resumed effective Jan. 1 after a temporary ban was imposed in September 2025. Bureau of Plant Industry data showed total rice imports reached 3.37 million metric tons in 2025, down from 4.81 million metric tons in 2024.
Officials project 2026 imports will reach between 3.6 million and 3.8 million metric tons.
Meanwhile, Tiu Laurel announced the rollout of “Benteng Bigas, Meron Na!” in Pangasinan province. The flagship program of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. provides rice at P20 per kg. to senior citizens, indigents, farmers, fishers and minimum-wage earners.
The program’s initial phase targets up to 15 million families nationwide, representing roughly 60 million people. Funding for the expansion is estimated at P14 billion, which includes P4 billion carried over from 2025.
This is separate from a P9 billion allocation for National Food Authority palay procurement.
The NFA holds 451,886 metric tons in inventory, enough to feed the country for nearly 12 days.
