Palay price set at P17, P21 per kilo

Rice industry stakeholders have agreed to set the buying price of wet and dry palay at P17.00 and P21.00 per kilo, respectively, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA).

DA spokesperson Arnel de Mesa said this price will take effect in several areas until harvest peaks in April. 

"Pagsusumikapan na bibilhin at P17.00 to P21.00 pesos yung palay ng ating mga magsasaka lalo ng ating mga millers in particular dito sa Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Pangasinan, Bulacan, Ilocos, Central Luzon hanggang sa mag-peak yung harvest hanggang April," explained De Mesa. 

(We will strive to purchase the rice of our farmers, especially our millers, particularly here in Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Pangasinan, Bulacan, Ilocos, Central Luzon, at P17.00 to P21.00 pesos until the harvest peaks in April.)

De Mesa further explained that keeping palay prices at this level will ensure a steady price of rice in the market.

"Gusto natin ma-maintain ang presyo ng farmgate. kung P17.00 to P20.00 (per kilo) mama-maintain P45 pesos na presyo ng bigas," he said.  

(We want to maintain the farmgate price. If it is P17.00 to P20.00 (per kilo), the price of rice will be maintained at P45 pesos.)

Meanwhile, rice industry stakeholders also agreed to bring in as much as 300,000 metric tons of imported rice.

As of mid-January, records show that about 178,000 mt of imported rice have reached the country, with the remaining allocation expected to arrive by February. This is to ensure that the arrival will not coincide with the harvest season.

The Bureau of Plant Industry has released guidelines in relation to the resumption of rice importation.

"Inaashan din na lahat ng imports will be coming in on or before February 28. Pag dumating beyond those dates, babalik yun sa source country at the expense ng importers," De Mesa said.

(It is also expected that all imports will be coming in on or before February 28. If they arrive beyond those dates, they will be returned to the source country at the expense of the importers.)

According to the DA, prices of rice have seen minimal increase even with the importation ban already being lifted this year.

Imported regular milled rice slightly increased to P42.00 per kilo from P40.00. Meanwhile, local regular milled rice remains at P40.00 pesos, while local well-milled rice is at P45.00 per kilo. —VAL, GMA Integrated News