Manila: The price adjustments for Rice for All (RFA) under the Marcos administration’s Kadiwa ng Pangulo (KNP) program are set to take effect on Wednesday, with reductions ranging from PHP2 to PHP3 per kilogram, as announced by the Department of Agriculture (DA) on Tuesday. This decision aligns with the ongoing decline in global rice prices and anticipates the peak of the palay harvest season.
According to Philippines News Agency, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. confirmed the new pricing structure in a statement. Effective from February 12, RFA5 rice will be available at PHP43 per kilogram, RFA25 at PHP35 per kilogram, and RFA100 at PHP33 per kilogram. Previously, RFA5 was priced at PHP45 per kilogram, RFA25 at PHP38 per kilogram, and RFA100 at PHP36 per kilogram.
The National Food Authority (NFA) will maintain its PHP29 program, offering aging but good quality rice at PHP29 per kilogram in KNP Centers. This initiative targets the vulnerable sectors, including members of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), senior citizens, persons with disabilities (PWDs), and solo parents.
The revised RFA prices will be more competitive compared to retail prices currently observed in Metro Manila. As of Monday, imported premium rice ranged from PHP48 to PHP58 per kilogram, imported well-milled rice from PHP44 to PHP45 per kilogram, and imported regular-milled rice from PHP38 to PHP46 per kilogram, as reported by the DA Bantay Presyo (price watch).
Local rice prices also remain higher, with local premium rice ranging from PHP46 to PHP58 per kilogram, local well-milled rice priced between PHP42 to PHP52 per kilogram, and local regular-milled rice from PHP38 to PHP45 per kilogram.
Earlier, on February 5, the DA reduced its maximum suggested retail price (MSRP) for imported 5 percent broken rice to PHP55 per kilogram, a PHP3 decrease from the previously set PHP58 per kilogram MSRP on January 20. This MSRP adjustment is part of broader government measures to control rising retail prices, which include lowering tariffs on imported rice and ensuring the availability of RFA options and the PHP29 program in KNP Centers and kiosks.
The DA has also declared a food security emergency for rice to encourage market adjustments leading to reduced retail prices. This encompasses the release of rice stocks at PHP33 per kilogram from the NFA to local government units (LGUs), government agencies, and government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs), which can then sell it at approximately PHP35 per kilogram to consumers. Additionally, this plan aims to free up NFA warehouses to facilitate the procurement of local palay from farmers.
