DA-10: No rice price hike, shortage in NorMin

 

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — Following the implementation of PhP58 Maximum Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) on imported rice in Metro Manila starting January 20, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-10) maintained that there is no rice price hike in Northern Mindanao as there is no observed rice shortage in the region.

In an interview Wednesday, January 22, DA-10 Regional Technical Director for Operations, Carlota S. Madriaga said the agency’s daily price monitoring in major markets of Cagayan de Oro being the most populated urban settlement in the region showed that imported premium rice are sold significantly lower than the MSRP at PhP56.00

“We are not affected by the imposed MSRP. Our monitoring showed that rice price remained steady, in fact our monitoring data from December 2024 to January 2025 showed that there is a decrease in rice price.” Madriaga disclosed.

The DA was prompted by the National Price Coordinating Council (NPCC) to declare a food security emergency for rice to stabilize an extraordinary hike in rice prices despite an order for tariff reduction by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. last year.

Dir. Madriaga said the declaration is a balancing act with which the government will be able to protect the local farmers by regulating the selling price of imported rice favoring Filipino-produced rice.

“With this, the consumer will be assured of affordable rice within their buying capacity. The declaration also allows the National Food Authority (NFA) to release their buffer stock to the local market to give the general public more options of cheaper local rice.” she furthered.

Dir. Madriaga urged the Kagay-anons to patronize the Kadiwa store located at the second floor of the Cogon Market, where consumers can buy rice with prices ranging from PhP36-PhP44 per kilo.

The said Kadiwa store was initiated by rice importers in coordination with the DA-10, Department of Trade and Industry – Region 10 (DTI-10) and the Local Government of Cagayan de Oro.

“We should not worry with regard to our rice supply in Northern Mindanao. Our projected palay harvest this March will reach up to 179,392 metric tons. This is enough to last 4 four months considering the region’s population.” she accounted.

To optimize rice production in the region, Dir. Madriaga said the DA-10 through its Rice Program has been continuously providing numerous assistance to local rice farmers in the form of rice seeds and fertilizer subsidy, financial assistance, training, irrigation system and mechanized farm support under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF).# (ATT)