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DA: NCR consumers may access more P43/kg rice next week

NPO

•

November 8, 2024

PNA

MANILA – The Department of Agriculture (DA) said Friday that consumers in Metro Manila may access more regular and well-milled rice worth PHP43 per kg. next week after meetings with local market association heads.

“Basically, we agreed na iyong kanilang kita dapat (that their profit) for regular and well-milled rice ay (should be) between PHP3 to PHP5,” DA Assistant Secretary Arnel De Mesa said in an interview.

Given the agreed margin profit, he said, the price per kilogram of regular and well-milled rice should not exceed PHP45, as wholesale prices range from PHP34 to PHP38 from importers and traders.

According to the DA monitoring, the prevailing average price of regular and well-milled rice in the National Capital Region (NCR) remains at the “unacceptable” level of PHP50 per kg.

“With this agreement, we’re hoping na ma-sustain na hindi lang siya piling (pamilihan). Kapag regular at well-milled, talagang hindi dapat tataas ng PHP45 sa pamilihan (to sustain that it will not be limited to select stores. For regular and well-milled rice, it should not really exceed PHP45 per kg. in the market),” De Mesa said.

He also cited plans to directly link market heads with importers or traders as their suppliers, along with intensified monitoring in local markets to prevent profiteering.

"Starting next week, part ng kasunduan is monitoring natin (part of the agreement is we will monitor) regularly. We are monitoring 30 markets NCR-wide from Monday to Saturday. Part ito ng monitoring natin at maghihigpit tayo (This is part of our monitoring and we will be strict),” De Mesa added.

The DA is set to inspect local markets in Quezon City and Manila to ensure compliance with the agreement.

Besides lower rice prices, the agreement also aims to secure coordination on the possibility of establishing Kadiwa sites in select markets.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. earlier ordered the DA to expand the sale of the P29 and Rice for All programs in more Kadiwa ng Pangulo stores nationwide.

The P29 program refers to the sale of National Food Authority (NFA) rice at PHP29 per kg. to the vulnerable sector, including members of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), senior citizens, solo parents, and persons with disabilities (PWDs); while the Rice for All program sells mixed local and imported commercial well-milled rice at PHP43 per kg.

Overall, the DA expressed confidence in making cheaper rice more available to Filipinos despite the effects of natural calamities, with the aid of rice imports coming in at reduced tariffs.

Marcos has ordered a tariff reduction on imported rice from 35 percent to 15 percent.

As of October, the DA reported 3.7 million metric tons of imported rice.