DA seeks fresh 60-day implementation of P50/kilo imported rice price cap

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is pushing for another 60-day implementation of the P50-per-kilo price cap on imported rice, which already expired early last month, to protect consumers from sudden price spikes.

In a chance interview with reporters on Wednesday, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel said that the agency has recommended reviving the price ceiling to keep retail prices stable while local supply remains tight.

The proposal will reinstate the policy when the initially imposed 30-day P50-per-kilo price cap on 5% broken imported rice already lapsed last June 13, 2026 as the government did not issue an immediate extension.

It was on May 13, 2026 when President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. issued Executive Order 118, that imposed a P50-per-kilogram price cap on 5% broken imported rice nationwide for 30 days "to address unjustified price increases, prevent market abuse, and ensure the availability of affordable rice while maintaining market stability" in the midst of rising food costs triggered by the Middle East crisis.

"We need two more months [of price cap] because there's no harvest right now," Tiu Laurel said.

The Agriculture chief said the DA is expecting the situation to normalize by August and September as the main harvest season begins, which would bring in the majority of the country's local rice production.

The steady flow of local supply is expected to stabilize the market and help control overall inflation through November, according to Tiu Laurel.

Moreover, he said the DA is hoping the proposed fresh 60-day price cap implementation will serve as a vital safety net for Filipino consumers until the local harvest fully kicks in. —RF, GMA News