DA to Review P58/kilo MSRP for Premium Imported Rice Monthly

The Department of Agriculture (DA) announced it will conduct monthly reviews of the maximum suggested retail price (MSRP) of ₱58 per kilogram for premium imported rice to determine if adjustments are needed based on global trends.

Pricing and Oversight

The ₱58 MSRP applies to premium imported rice with no more than 5% broken grains and caps the profit margins for importers, traders, and retailers at ₱10 per kilo. Retailers selling above the MSRP will be required to justify their prices to authorities.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. emphasized that imported rice with 25% broken grains should not exceed ₱50 per kilo. Recent DA monitoring shows that prices for imported commercial rice in Metro Manila markets range from ₱45 to ₱54 per kilogram.

“If rice prices remain excessively high, the DA and the Department of Trade and Industry will recommend to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. the imposition of a price ceiling, with strict penalties for violators,” the DA stated.

Initiatives to Lower Prices

To support lower rice prices:

• Public Market Kiosks: The DA plans to expand kiosks in public markets and train stations to sell goods, including rice, at fair prices, such as the ₱29 per kilogram rice program for vulnerable sectors.
• Alternative Rice Options: The DA is promoting cheaper alternatives like Sulit Rice (100% broken white rice) and Nutri Rice.
• Labeling Reforms: The agency is also exploring the removal of “premium” or “special” labels on imported rice to prevent overpricing.

Tariff Reduction

Under Executive Order 62, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. reduced rice tariff rates from 35% to 15% until 2028 to help manage prices.

During his campaign, Marcos promised to bring rice prices down to ₱20 per kilogram, a goal that continues to shape the administration’s policies.