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Max Suggested Retail Price for imported rice starts Jan. 20 – DA
By Nidz Godino
“Maximum SRP aims to strike delicate balance between business sustainability and welfare of consumers and farmers…we must ensure price of rice is fair and affordable even as we make sure rice industry remains profitable…we cannot allow greed of few to jeopardize well-being of entire nation,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said maximum suggested retail price (SRP) of P58 per kilo on imported rice will take effect on Jan. 20, after Executive Order 62 allowed 15 percent tariff on outsourced staple failed to bring down cost of rice.
Farmers’ group Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG) maintained P58 per kilo SRP to be enforced by Department of Agriculture (DA) is still high, saying maximum SRP should only be P45 per kilo.
Imported rice has been flooding the country as importations reached “all-time high” 4.684 million metric tons in 2024.
Tiu Laurel said price of P58 per kilo was determined after extensive consultations with importers, retailers, rice industry stakeholders as well as government agencies and law enforcement bodies.
SINAG executive director Jayson Cainglet said during marathon hearing of House quinta committee, importers promised retail price of imported rice could go down to between P42 and P45 per kilo once EO 62 is implemented.
“Prior to implementation of E0 62, importers and National Economic and Development Authority were in chorus for P7 to 10 per kilo reduction in rice prices upon effectivity of 15 percent tariff on imported rice,” Cainglet said.
He stressed importers are still winners with DA’s decision to implement P58 per kilo of rice.
“We’ve said all along that savings of importers on tariff reduction will not benefit consumers…that’s why tariff reduction is not answer to high retail price of rice,” Cainglet stressed.
He said landed cost of imported rice is only between P35 and P38 kilo, and maximum SRP on imported rice should be pegged at P45.
Tiu Laurel said maximum SRP will be implemented initially in Metro Manila, and will be reviewed every month to take into account several factors, including global prices of grain.
“We think that if current direction of global prices holds, maximum will be lower after review, based on our calculations, using data and profit margins provided by importers and retailers, imported five percent broken rice should not exceed P58 per kilo…for rice with higher percentage of broken grains, price should be much lower,” DA chief said.
Cainglet said government should use new Anti-Agriculture Economic Sabotage Act or Republic Act 12022 in going after unscrupulous traders.
“We’ve long suggested SRP, but with punitive action, using new law as basis for being non-bailable to anyone is involved in profiteering of rice and other agriculture commodities,” he said.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.signed EO 62 in effort to bring down retail price of rice.
Based on monitoring of DA in Metro Manila markets, retail price of imported special rice was sold as high as P64 per kilo; imported premium rice, as high as P60 per kilo; imported well-milled rice, P54 per kilo and imported regular-milled rice, P48 per kilo.
Trade and Industry Secretary Cristina Roque gave assurance of department’s support for DA’s campaign to lower rice prices for Filipino consumers.
“DTI fully supports DA in all its initiatives…we will help in monitoring and enforcement of prices set by DA,” Roque said.
At the same time, Tiu Laurel has instructed Food Terminals Inc. (FTI), government corporation under DA, to begin selling rice through Kadiwa ng Pangulo centers and kiosks.
He said rice options include five percent broken at P45 per kilo, 25 percent broken at P40 and 100 percent broken also known as Sulit Rice at P36 per kilo and P29 per kilo for vulnerable sector include indigents, persons with disabilities, senior citizens, single parents and indigenous people.
Tiu Laurel said rice that has been stored by National Food Authority (NFA) for at least two months will be made available for resale to local government units in Metro Manila at P38 per kilo.
“Initiative will help NFA clear its warehouses in preparation for upcoming harvest season…our warehouses are filled to capacity, and I have directed NFA administrator Larry Lacson to have rice milled immediately so we could saturate market with fairer-price rice as we make space for palay we plan to procure at minimum of P23 per kilo for clean and dry this season,” he added.
SINAG said retail price of tomatoes should not exceed P200 per kilo as its farmgate price went down by 40 percent or between P90 and P120 per kilo from previous P180 to P200 per kilo.
In message to media, Cainglet said farmgate price of tomatoes in Palawan is only P40 per kilo.
“Farmgate price of tomatoes dropped as many farmers harvested early,” he said.
Based on monitoring of DA in Metro Manila markets, retail price of tomatoes still reached as high as P310 per kilo.
Retail price of tomatoes soared to P360 per kilo after New Year celebration.
“In Mindanao, retail price of tomatoes is below P100 per kilo… problem is logistics,” Cainglet noted.
Agriculture Assistant Secretary and spokesman Arnel de Mesa has said DA has no plan to impose SRP on tomatoes despite spike in cost of farm product.
SINAG assured public of ample supply of red onions as harvest season has started.
Cainglet said farmgate price remained stable between P50 and P60 per kilo for red onions, and between P70 and P80 per kilo for white onions over past weeks.
He said from November to December, many farmers suffered losses amid rotting of red bulbs in cold storage. “Onion growers did not receive any intervention from government,” he noted.
Cainglet added that harvest season has started. “Onion farmers began their harvest that would pull down farmgate prices,” he said.
Based on monitoring of DA in Metro Manila markets, retail price of red onions ranged between P100 and P180 per kilo; local white onions, between P110 and P160 per kilo and imported white onions, between P85 and P200 per kilo.
Meanwhile, various peasant groups held protest at Litex Market in Quezon City, as they condemned soaring retail price of rice and vegetables in the country.
Members of Amihan National Federation of Peasant Women, Gabriela Women’s Party party-list, watchdog group Bantay Bigas and Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas said government should act amid increase in poverty incidence across the country.
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