P35 per kilo rice to be available soon

Consumers will soon have access to more affordable rice, priced at P35 per kilo, as the National Food Authority (NFA) prepares to release its rice stocks to local government units, government-owned and controlled corporations, and other government agencies.

NFA Department Manager Roy Ontiveros confirmed Tuesday that the agency will receive orders from the Department of Agriculture (DA) to release its stocks following the declaration of a rice emergency. Under the Rice Tariffication Law passed in 2019, the NFA's role has been limited to stocking rice for emergencies, removing its authority to import and sell rice directly to the public.

This price reduction follows the declaration of a food security emergency for the staple grain by Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. on Monday, citing the "extraordinary" rise in its prices despite global price reductions and a decrease in rice tariffs last year from 35 percent to 15 percent.

A total of 150,000 metric tons (MT) of rice, equivalent to approximately three million 50-kilo bags, will be released over six months, with about 30,000 MT distributed each month. Priority will be given to areas with elevated rice prices.

"Initially, we heard it would be P38 per kilo, but now, with the incoming harvest, we need to release NFA stocks to make space for the palay deliveries from farmers," Ontiveros explained.

According to Asec. Atty. Genevieve Guevarra, a mandatory review of the National Food Security Program will be conducted every four months, but it will be monitored more frequently—either bimonthly or monthly—to determine if the food security emergency is still needed.

The food security emergency on rice will remain in effect until it is lifted or withdrawn by the Secretary of Agriculture.

The latest data from the DA's price monitoring shows that well-milled rice is currently priced at an average of P45.93 per kilo in Metro Manila markets, while Kadiwa rice is priced at P38 per kilo.