DA to sell affordable rice for P38/kg

Metro Manila, Philippines - Well-milled rice under the “Rice-for-All” program will be sold for P38 per kilogram (kg) beginning Friday, Jan. 17, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. announced the move on Thursday, from an original price of P40/kg last December. 

The program is available in some Metro Manila markets and train stations.

Laurel has asked Metro Manila mayors in a council meeting Thursday to allow the DA to put up Kadiwa ng Pangulo stalls which sell the cheap rice in public and private markets.

The cheaper grain is offered ahead of the Jan. 20 implementation of a maximum suggested retail price (SRP) on imported premium rice at P58/kg. 

Lawmakers scrutinized the price in a congressional hearing on Wednesday, with some saying the maximum SRP should have been benchmarked on domestic prices. 

“Maraming nag-question sa diskarte ko na P58 [Many questioned my P58 strategy],” Laurel told reporters in a market visit in Pasig City. “I’m also considering the farmers Giving time to importers to renegotiate their contracts with everybody, including traders, wholesalers, retailers.”

“The P58 pesos na ‘yon na maximum suggested price, I have to admit nasa [it’s on the] higher end,” he added.

Laurel said the maximum SRP will be reviewed every two to three weeks, intending to bring it down to P50.

The agriculture chief also said the maximum SRP will be expanded to other imported rice varieties once the DA releases the revised labeling guidelines in market stalls. 

“Sa local rice, we don't want to impose that as of the moment… sa akin mas importante kumita ang farmer natin kasi ‘yung planting intention mawawala [For me, it’s important that our farmers will get profits because we might lose their planting intention],” he also clarified.