Trade Secretary Cristina Roque and Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. conducted a joint inspection of rice prices and quality at Alabang Central Market in Muntinlupa City on Thursday morning. The visit, joined by Muntinlupa Mayor Ruffy Biazon, was part of the DA-DTI joint market monitoring initiative aimed at safeguarding both consumers and farmers as the harvest season approaches.

The inspection follows President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s recent remarks in Bulacan, where he assured farmers that the government is exploring ways to improve their income and ensure readiness for the next planting cycle. Marcos emphasized that full support will be extended by the Department of Agriculture and the National Food Authority, with discussions underway to establish a floor price for rice.

“Our main goal is to make sure that our farmers earn enough to be ready for the next planting season,” Marcos said in FIlipino.

The President also proposed increased distribution of equipment like dryers and rice mills and encouraged local governments to donate trucks to cooperatives for easier transport of harvests. Additionally, he floated the idea of using cold storage facilities to help locally produced rice remain competitive with imported varieties.