The price of imported rice in Cagayan de Oro City has gone up by P10 to P12 per kilo due to the high demand and limited supply, according to the Department of Agriculture-Northern Mindanao (DA-10).

At Cogon Public Market, prices of rice increased six days before Christmas.

According to a rice retailer, the price increase was observed since the first week of December 2025.

“Kada adlaw halos gasaka mao among mga customer matingala ba unsa man inga gasaka man inyong presyo alangan nga kada adto namo sa bodega gasaka man pud sila,” rice retailer, Angelo Abadejos, said.

Imported rice is now sold at P60 to P65 per kilo from P50 to P55 per kilo.

“Ang local karon nisaka napud kay wala man lain choice nila. Naa tay supply, daghan atong local, dili ta mahutdan kay kada adto namo sa bodega mao man ilang ihatag,” Abadejos added.

DA-10 explained that the price increase is linked to an importation ban affecting the supply of imported rice.

However, the supply of locally produced rice remains stable, as of this writing.

“With or without the SRP we have enough supply. Ang rice while we have enough supply but some of the customers really likes imported rice ni taas gamay sa presyo sa limited imported rice,” DA-10 Director, Jose Apollo Pacamalan, said.

However, several consumers continue to support locally produced rice.

“At P48, red rice reasonable na siya. Ngano mo-support man ta og imported nga atong local farmers man ang importante?” consumer, Noemi Barna, said.

DA-10 maintained that the supply of rice in the region remains sufficient, with inventories enough for up to 31 days.

Prices are expected to stabilize and go down potentially starting January 2026 with the start of the harvest season for locally produce rice.