Residents in Mangaldan, Pangasinan can now buy rice for as low as P30 per kilo as prices of both local and imported rice continue to decline during the harvest season.

This week, prices dropped by another P5 per kilo for commercial rice, while imported rice also went down by P1 to P2 per kilo.

Because of this steady decline, rice traders are holding off on bulk imports to avoid potential losses.

“Maraming bigas ngayon. Kung kukuha kami ng marami, baka malugi lang kami,” Marvin Zaratan, a rice trader, said.

Consumers, on the other hand, are benefitting from the drop in prices. Some buyers who used to purchase rice by the kilo can now afford a full sack.

“Mura ngayon talaga. At least makabili kami ng maayos,” Gina Dela Cruz, a regular buyer at the Mangaldan Public Market, said.

According to the Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG), the price of newly harvested palay currently ranges from P13 to P14 per kilo. While the low buying price continues to affect farmers, SINAG remains hopeful that government measures will soon help improve their income.

“We hope na kasi nagkausap kami ng Pangulo sa La Union, nabanggit ko ‘yung dapat i-increase ‘yung 35 percent na tariff and sabi niya ‘yun ang tinitingnan niya na pwedeng gawin,” Engr. Rosendo So, chairman of SINAG, said.

As of October 22, SINAG’s monitoring showed that local commercial rice sells for P30 to P48 per kilo, while imported rice ranges from P40 to P42 per kilo.