DA to Lower ‘Rice-for-All’ Prices to P38-P39/kilo in January

The Department of Agriculture (DA) plans to further reduce the price of well-milled rice under its “Rice-for-All” program, aiming to bring prices down to P38-P39 per kilo this January.

Currently, the program offers rice at P40 per kilo in Kadiwa outlets across Metro Manila, including stations on MRT-3 (Ayala Avenue and North Avenue) and LRT-2 (Cubao and Recto).

Gradual Price Reductions

DA Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Arnel de Mesa shared on PTV’s Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon that rice prices have steadily decreased over the past months:

“Nagsimula tayo diyan, nagbenta tayo ng P45 per kilo naibaba iyan sa P43.00 at P42.00 at nito nga bago matapos ang taong 2024 ay naibaba pa iyan sa P40.00 per kilo,” he said.
(We started at P45 per kilo, reduced it to P43, P42, and by the end of 2024, to P40 per kilo.)

The DA’s goal for January is to lower prices further to P38-P39 per kilo.

Expanding Affordable Rice Options

In addition to the Rice-for-All program, the DA is set to introduce new rice initiatives this month:

• “Sulit Rice”: Priced at P35-P36 per kilo, this 100% broken rice offers affordable options while maintaining good quality.
• “Nutri Rice”: A more nutritious option, combining the benefits of well-milled and brown rice, will sell at P37-P38 per kilo.

“Maganda pa naman ‘yung quality. Ang kaibahan lang talaga nito ay broken ang bigas na ito. ‘Yung ‘Nutri Rice’ naman ito ‘yung in between natin ng well-milled at saka yung tinatawag natin na brown rice. Maraming nutrients na natira ito,” De Mesa explained.
(The quality is still good, but it’s broken rice. The ‘Nutri Rice’ is between well-milled and brown rice, retaining many nutrients.)

Overcoming Challenges

Despite the expected impact of La Niña on farming conditions, the DA assured the public that the price adjustments will push through.

“Yung P38 to P39 na presyo ng ‘Rice-for-All’ ay magsisimula na rin ngayong taon,” said De Mesa.
(The P38 to P39 price of ‘Rice-for-All’ will also take effect this year.)

The DA’s efforts are part of a broader strategy to make rice more accessible while stabilizing market prices, with private retailers already lowering prices to stay competitive.