Duterte: P20/K rice impossible

MANILA, Philippines — There is no way for rice prices to dip to P20 per kilo as promised by President Marcos, according to former president Rodrigo Duterte.

“I feel bad for President Marcos. The rising prices will continue. There is no turning back,” Duterte said on Sunday in an interview with his friend Apollo Quiboloy, a religious leader wanted in the US for sex trafficking of children, posted by vloggers.

The price of rice has steadily increased since last year. Premium rice retails at P67 per kilo while local well-milled rice is at P57 and local regular rice is at P53 per kilo.

While it is impossible to bring down the price to P20, Duterte said the increase in rice prices can be controlled if Marcos asks Congress for emergency powers.

“Not martial law. Just emergency powers,” Duterte said.

Meanwhile, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) hiked its import forecast for the Philippines by 200,000 metric tons from its estimate of 3.9 million MT in February due to a foreseen “smaller crop” harvest.

The country’s rice output in market year 2023-2024 is expected to settle at around 12.3 million MT, down two percent from last month’s projection and three percent from last year, the USDA said.