Gov’t sets P58/kg top suggested retail price for imported rice

Metro Manila, Philippines - The government will impose a maximum suggested retail price or MSRP for imported rice at P58 per kilogram beginning Jan. 20, the Department of Agriculture announced on Friday, Jan. 10.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel said the MSRP, to be carried out initially in Metro Manila, aims to prevent pricing of the imported staple beyond the actual cost and acceptable mark-up.

The price will be reviewed monthly to consider other factors such as the grain’s cost in the world market.

“The MSRP is designed na lahat kikita nang kaunti to survive. Ang ina-avoid natin diyan, ‘yung excess price or profiteering. ‘Yun nga, fair, affordable price for the importer, the farmer, the trader, the retailers, and of course, the consumers,” Laurel said

[Translation: The MSRP is designed so that everyone will benefit a little to survive. We are avoiding profiteering. We aim for fair, affordable prices for the importer, the farmer, the trader, the retailers, and of course, the consumers.]

Imported rice sells for P40 to P65 per kilogram.

Laurel said prices should not significantly drop for farmers to make profit.

“‘Pag sila hindi na kumita, hindi na magtanim ‘yan; mas malaki ang problema. There has to be a balance. So, let’s not go for total bagsak-presyo,” he explained.

[Translation: If they do not earn, they will no longer plant; that is a bigger problem. So, let’s not go for a total price decrease.]

MSRP ‘too high’

For rice watch group Bantay Bigas, the MSRP is “too high” and it will pull the price of other rice stocks up.

The group said farmers have difficulty competing with imported rice.

“Hindi kayang mag-compete ang bigas - ang locally-produced natin, ang farmers natin sa imported na bigas dahil ‘yung mga imported na bigas ay talagang subsidized ng mga countries na pinanggagalingan,” Bantay Bigas spokesperson Cathy Estavillo told NewsWatch Plus.

[Translation: Locally-produced rice and our farmers cannot compete with imported rice because those are subsidized by their origin countries.]

The group asked the government to provide subsidy, post-harvest facilities, irrigation, and genuine agrarian reform for farmers and rice subsidy to consumers.

“Sabi ng ating mga magsasaka, kung meron lang support ‘yung gobyerno sa kanila, kayang-kaya - sobra pa sa kanilang lilikhain ang pangangailangan ng mamamayang Pilipino,” Estavillo said.

[Translation: Our farmers said if they only have the government’s support, they can produce more than what Filipinos need.]

Based on government data, the country imported 4.7 million metric tons of rice in 2024.