Manila: The declaration of food security emergency for rice will be retained in February, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said Friday. The food security emergency for rice was initially declared on February 3, 2025, to help bring down the retail prices of rice to the levels seen before July 2023.

According to Philippines News Agency, DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. explained in an ambush interview that the emergency status should remain in effect until a new Rice Act is in place. This measure is necessary to manage the rice supply properly in relation to supply and demand. He also expressed his intention to examine the progress of the proposed Rice Act to ensure it benefits both farmers and consumers. "Manghihingi ako ng update actually soon sa ating (I will actually seek an update soon from our) House of Representatives," Tiu Laurel added.

The food security emergency was declared after inflation rates for rice surpassed the government's four percent target. This measure enables the sale of aging or soon-to-expire but good-quality rice stocks from the National Food Authority through Food Terminal Inc.

As of Thursday, data from the DA Bantay Presyo (Price Watch) showed that premium imported rice in Metro Manila is being sold at PHP45 to PHP60 per kilo. Meanwhile, the price range for imported well-milled rice is PHP43/kilo to PHP50/kilo, and PHP35/kilo to PHP46/kilo for imported regular-milled rice. Local premium rice prices are between PHP42/kilo to PHP60/kilo, with well-milled rice priced at PHP45/kilo and regular milled rice at PHP40/kilo.