DA tightens measures to keep holiday food prices low

Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. said Friday that the DA is intensifying efforts to keep food prices stable through the holiday season, noting that the continued drop in rice, corn, vegetable, and meat prices is playing a critical role in protecting the purchasing power of Filipino consumers—especially low-income households.

His remarks came as headline inflation eased to 1.5 percent in November, the slowest in three months, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). For the country’s poorest 30 percent of households, deflation persisted at 0.2 percent, following a 0.4 percent decline in October and sharply lower than the 2.9 percent inflation recorded a year earlier. The trend reflects rare relief for families whose budgets are dominated by staple foods.

“The data behove us to make sure food prices are kept low to ease the financial burden of consumers, especially the poor,” Tiu Laurel said. “The DA has taken steps in recent weeks to ensure prices remain stable, if not lower, especially during the Christmas season when demand surges and price pressures intensify.”

PSA Assistant Secretary for Economic Planning Divina Gracia Del Prado said the steep decline in key staples—particularly the 15.4 percent drop in rice prices and 4.1 percent decrease in corn—had a significant impact on the overall inflation picture.

“Rice accounts for 8.9 percent of the average Filipino’s consumption, but 17.9 percent of the basket of the poor,” she said, underscoring why falling grain prices translate quickly into relief for vulnerable households.

Tiu Laurel added that the DA continues to walk a delicate line – balancing consumer expectations with farmers’ profit margins ahead of Christmas 2025.

“We are trying our best to support the profitability of our farmers while keeping food affordable for consumers. Despite the number of products we have to monitor, we are slowly rationalizing our food system.”

To keep prices in check, the DA has imposed suggested retail prices on imported rice, onions, and carrots, as well as reinstated price caps on pork. The Department also authorized additional imports of onions, carrots, meat, and fish to bolster supply and prevent holiday-driven spikes.

PSA data show cereals and cereal products pulled down overall inflation by 3.3 percentage points, followed by sugar, desserts, fruits, and nuts—indicating broad easing across major food categories.

With holiday demand rising, officials say stable food prices will be vital in keeping inflation manageable and sustaining consumption, which remains the backbone of the Philippine economy.