Food supply steady until July — DA

The Philippines will have ample food supply at least until July, the Department of Agriculture (DA) assured last week, easing concerns over possible price spikes amid tensions in the Middle East.

“Definitely, walang issue sa supply. I can safely say hanggang June or even July, walang issue sa supply of almost everything (there’s no issue in supply. I can safely say that until June or July, there will be no issue in the supply of almost everything),” DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said in an interview.

“So, in general, prices should remain stable at this time.”

The DA said inventories remain strong across key commodities, including rice, corn, sugar, vegetables, and livestock. The country is also benefiting from peak harvest season for rice and onions, alongside ongoing dry-season planting and harvesting of vegetables.

To help keep prices in check, the agency is ramping up the rollout of more affordable rice options through government-backed programs. Sales of “Binhi” rice are set to expand to more public markets under Food Terminal, Inc. (FTI), following initial distribution in Metro Manila.

“That’s why we have launched the Planters Product, Inc. (PPI) rice and Binhi. It’s being sold now at ₱48 per kilo, the Binhi, while the PPI rice is at ₱45 per kilo in 36 markets in Metro Manila,” Tiu Laurel said in mixed English and Filipino.

The DA plans to extend the program beyond the capital to areas such as Metro Cebu, Cebu province, Cavite, and Bulacan.

“It’s just an option for the people, and para makita nila na ito imported din, maganda din, ito lang ang dapat na presyo (so that they can see that these are imported and of good quality and are only sold at these price levels),” he added.

Despite generally stable supply, the DA acknowledged slight price increases driven by higher logistics costs.

“Of course, may konting taas na nakikita almost ₱2 per kilo dahil sa freight, transport cost ng lahat tumaas naman (there’s a minimal increase of almost ₱2 per kg. due to freight and transport cost, everything has increased), as we all know,” Tiu Laurel said.

Monitoring data show that premium imported rice in Metro Manila currently sells between ₱55 and ₱63 per kilo. Well-milled imported rice ranges from ₱45 to ₱49, while regular-milled varieties are priced at ₱42 to ₱45.

Local rice prices remain within similar ranges, with premium varieties at ₱46 to ₱60 per kilo, and well-milled and regular-milled types at around ₱45 and ₱40, respectively.

“Dapat ang imported nasa ₱45 to ₱50 iyan, anything above that is, tingin ko, is profiteering talaga and taking advantage (Imported rice must only range from ₱45 to ₱50. Anything above that, for me, is profiteering and taking advantage),” he said.

Tiu Laurel noted that the landed cost of imported rice is about ₱35 per kilo, with a projected ₱10 margin shared among importers, traders, and retailers.

The DA has already submitted its report to the National Price Coordinating Council (NPCC) on the proposed ₱50 per kilo price cap for imported rice, with developments expected after Holy Week, from March 29 to April 5.