Imported rice costlier amid ban

The Department of Agriculture (DA) said prices of local commercial rice remain stable, while some imported rice slightly increased following the implementation of the 60-day import ban on the key staple.

- By DEXTER BARRO II

While still on the second day of the two-month suspension, Agriculture Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said consumers should not worry about potential hikes in locally produced rice.

“Ang maganda rito sa local commercial rice natin—para sa premium, well-milled, regular milled—wala tayong ma-monitor na pagtaas,” De Mesa said in a television interview.

(What’s good here with our local commercial rice—whether premium, well-milled, or regular milled—is that we do not monitor any increase.)

Based on the DA’s latest monitoring in Metro Manila markets, the average retail prices of premium rice, well-milled rice, and regular milled rice are P50 per kilo, P43 per kilo, and P38 per kilo, respectively.

From Sept. 1 until Oct. 30, the government is enforcing a suspension of the importation of regular and well-milled rice.