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THE Department of Agriculture (DA) said imported rice stocks remain ample to carry out the maximum suggested retail price (MSRP) for rice despite the temporary ban slapped on the staple grain.

This, after the supposed cap on premium rice recently posted an increase to P55 per kilo, exceeding the MSRP at P43 per kilo.

As such, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. ordered stricter market monitoring to ensure that the MSRP on foreign shipments is enforced.

“Teams from AMAS [the Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service] will visit markets where price increases on imported rice have been reported. If the complaints are validated, retailers will be issued show-cause orders,” Tiu Laurel said.

The DA chief earlier revealed that the country ended 2024 with an excess rice import volume of around 1.2 million metric tons (MMT), as traders took advantage of lower global rice prices and tariffs.

There was also an extra 800,000 metric tons (MT) during the first nine months of this year, he added.

Tiu Laurel recognized the growing demand for high-quality imported rice which led to tighter supply due to the import freeze.

Despite this, the DA chief maintained that prices should remain within the P43 MSRP for 5-percent broken rice.

“There are still imported and local rice varieties selling for as low as P33 to P38 per kilo. Consumers just need to be more discerning in choosing where they buy,” Tiu Laurel added.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier issued an Executive Order (EO) suspending the imports of regular and well-milled rice from September 1 to October 30, 2025.

The move was part of the government’s move to prop up palay farmgate prices, which had plunged to as low as P8 per kilo in some areas due to oversupply, high production, and weather-related crop damage.

Marcos will reportedly extend the two-month import suspension through December.

Meanwhile, the DA said lower-income households could purchase cheaper rice through its programs Rice-for-All and the P20 per kilo rice program through Kadiwa sites and select National Food Authority (NFA) warehouses.

Agriculture Assistant Secretary Genevieve Velicaria-Guevarra said letters will be sent to four Metro Manila markets where elevated rice prices have been reported.

“We will conduct site visits to assess compliance and determine what actions may be taken if imported rice is being sold above the MSRP,” she said.

Aside from market inspections, Guevarra noted that AMAS will also monitor warehouses to assess current rice supply levels.

Source : businessmirror