The Department of Agriculture (DA) is intensifying its efforts to combat high rice prices by expanding its Rice-for-All program and increasing the presence of KADIWA ng Pangulo kiosks nationwide.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. announced initiatives aimed at providing equitable access to affordable rice, especially for economically disadvantaged households.
“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 program, consumers can buy rice at P45 per kilo for 5% broken grains, P40 for 25% broken, and P36 for 100% broken, also known as “Sulit Rice.”
For vulnerable sectors such as indigents, solo parents, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and indigenous communities, the P29-per-kilo rice program offers up to 10 kilos monthly per beneficiary.
The average Filipino household allocates 10% of its budget to rice, with poorer households spending up to 20%.
Recognizing rice’s importance, Tiu Laurel emphasized its pricing has significant implications for both consumers and farmers.
To stabilize rice prices, the DA has partnered with the Metro Manila Development Council and local government units (LGUs) to sell National Food Authority (NFA) rice stocks at P38 per kilo.
The move aims to clear NFA warehouses in preparation for the upcoming palay harvest.
Additionally, the DA will introduce a maximum suggested retail price (MSRP) of P58 per kilo for premium imported rice starting January 20, initially in Metro Manila.
Tiu Laurel noted that this measure caps profit margins for traders and retailers at P10 per kilo and aligns with global trends.
“This MSRP aims to strike a delicate balance between business sustainability and the welfare of consumers and farmers,” he said.
The DA is also working with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to monitor and enforce these prices.
Trade Secretary Cristina Roque expressed her agency’s full support, stating, “We will help in the monitoring and enforcement of prices set by the DA.”
Rice import volumes reached a record 4.7 million metric tons in 2024, driven by reduced tariffs and falling global prices.
Tiu Laurel highlighted that imported 5% broken rice should not exceed P58 per kilo based on current profit margins.
The DA’s Food Terminals Inc. (FTI) has been tasked with distributing affordable rice through KADIWA centers, offering options like RFA5 rice at P45 per kilo, RFA25 at P40, and Sulit Rice at P36.
The P29-per-kilo rice will remain a staple for vulnerable sectors.
By selling rice stored for at least two months at P38 per kilo, the NFA is helping LGUs ensure affordable supplies while preparing for the harvest.
“Our warehouses are filled to capacity,” Tiu Laurel noted, adding that the DA plans to procure palay at a minimum of P23 per kilo.
