DA to implement P58/kilo MSRP for imported rice starting January 20

Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. on Friday said that the maximum suggested retail price (MSRP) for imported rice will be set at P58 per kilo, starting January 20. This price was determined after extensive consultations with importers, retailers, rice industry stakeholders, as well as government agencies and law enforcement bodies.

“This MSRP aims to strike a delicate balance between business sustainability and the welfare of consumers and farmers. We must ensure the price of rice is fair and affordable even as we make sure that the rice industry remain profitable. We cannot allow the greed of a few to jeopardize the well-being of an entire nation,” said Secretary Tiu Laurel.

He said the MSRP will be implemented initially in Metro Manila, and will be reviewed every month to take into account several factors, including global price of the grain. “We think that if the current direction of global prices hold, the MSRP will be lower after the review,” the DA chief said.

Trade and Industry Secretary Cristina Roque reaffirmed the DTI’s support for the DA’s push to lower rice prices for Filipino consumers. “The DTI fully supports the DA in all its initiatives. We will help in the monitoring and enforcement of prices set by the DA,“ she said.

In recent weeks, the Department of Agriculture (DA) has held discussions with rice millers, traders, importers, retailers, and key government offices, including the Department of Trade and Industry, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Finance, and the Philippine National Police. The consultations focused on addressing persistently high rice prices, despite President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s rice tariff cuts and falling global prices.

Rice import volume reached a record 4.7 million metric tons in 2024 as falling prices and lower tariff created a disincentive for smugglers, allowing the market to more accurately reflect the volume of rice imported into the country.

“Based on our calculations, using data and profit margins provided by importers and retailers, imported 5% broken rice should not exceed P58 per kilo. For rice with a higher percentage of broken grains, the price should be much