The Department of Agriculture (DA) has secured firm commitments from rice millers and importers to buy local palay at minimum prices, even as imported rice enters the market.
DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said traders will continue purchasing wet palay at no less than P17 per kilogram and dry palay at P21 per kilogram, depending on quality. The move aims to protect farmer incomes while stabilizing rice supply ahead of the harvest season.
Harvesting has begun in Nueva Ecija and Nueva Vizcaya, with more areas like Pangasinan, Ilocos, Bulacan, and La Union expected to start by February. Milling activity is projected to rise further in March and April as harvest volumes increase.
Tiu Laurel emphasized that farmer prices are “non-negotiable” and that the National Food Authority (NFA) will not compete with private traders, provided agreed minimum prices are maintained.
The DA is coordinating rice imports carefully, targeting an initial 300,000 metric tons for February, to stabilize retail prices without affecting farmgate rates. Imported rice shipments must arrive by February 28, 2026, or they will be returned to the source country.
Current prices in Metro Manila are around P44.78 per kg for local well-milled rice and P40.12 per kg for regular milled rice. Imported regular rice is sold at P40.12 per kg, while special and premium imported varieties range from P51.80 to P59.62 per kg.
