Several markets in Quezon City are now offering regular and well-milled rice at affordable prices, ranging from ₱42 to ₱45 per kilo, following a recent inspection by the Department of Agriculture (DA). This move comes after ongoing discussions between the DA and rice retailers aimed at ensuring more accessible rice prices for Filipino families.
The inspection, conducted on Monday, was led by Assistant Secretary for Agribusiness, Marketing, and Consumer Affairs Genevieve E. Velicaria-Guevarra, along with Assistant Secretary for Special Concerns and DA Spokesperson Arnel V. De Mesa. The officials visited key markets in Quezon City, including the Murphy Public Market, Mega Q-Mart, and Kamuning Public Market, where they confirmed that retailers are now offering rice within the target price range.
Asec. De Mesa remarked, “May nakita naman tayo na nagtitinda ng P42-P45 both local and imported. Iyong mas mababa ay local at karamihan ng imported ay premium. Dito may nakita tayo na nagbebenta ng P42-P45 which is in compliance base sa mga naging usapan dito sa tatlong markets.” This price range reflects the recent agreements between the DA and rice traders, which allow for a profit margin of ₱3 to ₱5 per kilo of rice.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. expressed gratitude for the cooperation displayed by rice traders and highlighted its positive impact on Filipino households. He said, “Maraming salamat po sa inyong kooperasyon. Magiging malaking tulong ito para sa bawat pamilyang Pilipino.” Tiu Laurel’s statement underscored the significance of the initiative, which aims to provide relief to consumers amid high rice prices, despite tariff reductions on rice imports.
A major issue addressed during the consultation was the persistence of expensive rice even at retail and even after the government reduced the tariff on rice imports. In response, the DA is working on improving the rice supply chain by connecting market vendors directly with rice importers and traders, eliminating unnecessary intermediaries. Asec. Guevarra explained, “Ang sabi po kasi ng mga nakausap namin hindi sustainable ang murang bigas kasi walang nagbebenta sa kanila na ganoong presyo. Ang sabi naman po namin sa kanila, meron po kami na pwede i-connect sa kanila upang hindi na ganoon karaming traders pa ang dadaanan nila.”
She further emphasized that multiple layers of traders add to the cost, making rice more expensive for consumers. “Kung marami na naman na traders o wholesale-traders, nadadagdagan pa kahit pa-piso kada sako. Nadadagdagan din sa consumers. Consumers pa rin ang balik noon.”
The DA reassured the public that it will continue to monitor rice prices and work closely with stakeholders to stabilize prices for the long haul. Tiu Laurel said, “Hindi ito pansamantala. Patuloy ang pakikipag-usap natin sa mga stakeholders ng bigas at agri-commodities. We will continuously meet with all stakeholders in a timely manner from farmer groups to processors, traders, importers, and retailers to ensure we have stable prices for all within the rice value chain.”
