Manila: The Department of Agriculture (DA) announced that decreasing global rice prices and the continuous importation of rice into the Philippines are anticipated to lower retail prices in local markets.
According to Philippines News Agency, DA spokesperson Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa emphasized in a recent press conference that the PHP43 per kilogram maximum suggested retail price (MSRP) for 5 percent broken imported rice remains effective. He highlighted that the rice was purchased at a low price, implying that market prices should not be excessively high and should adhere to the established MSRP for premium or 5 percent broken rice.
As of December 2025, the international price for 5 percent broken Vietnam rice, used as the Philippine benchmark for imported rice, was USD383.2 per metric ton, notably lower than the 2024 average of USD553.8 per metric ton. In Metro Manila, premium imported rice prices range from PHP45 to PHP60 per kilo, while imported well-milled rice is priced between PHP43 and PHP50 per kilo, and imported regular-milled rice is between PHP35 and PHP46 per kilo.
Local premium rice is priced between PHP42 and PHP60 per kilo, with well-milled rice at PHP45 per kilo and regular milled rice at PHP40 per kilo. The DA has pledged to maintain rigorous market monitoring in collaboration with other law enforcement agencies to ensure compliance with pricing guidelines.
De Mesa mentioned that the government might retain the 15 percent tariff on imported rice until the end of March, amid the sufficient rice supply due to ongoing import arrivals following the lift of the import ban. As of January 22, the Bureau of Plant Industry recorded 247,272.69 metric tons of import arrivals from 142 issued sanitary and phytosanitary import clearances, closely matching the previous year's import volume for the same period.
In response to allegations of supply manipulation by some wholesalers, De Mesa indicated that the DA might investigate the operations of the Intercity Ricemill in Bocaue, Bulacan. The inspectorate office is prepared to address any hoarding activities under the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act.
