Amid concerns over potential price pressures on basic goods, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered the Department of Agriculture (DA) to intensify efforts to keep rice affordable while ensuring a steady national supply, as the government moves to shield consumers from inflationary pressures and global market disruptions.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the directive was issued during a Tuesday meeting of the Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport (UPLIFT) committee in Malacañang, presided over by the President.
Castro said Marcos specifically instructed Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu-Laurel Jr. to step up enforcement against hoarding, profiteering, and other forms of price manipulation in the rice industry.
The President, she added, made it clear that the government will not tolerate abuses that could further burden consumers.
“Iniutos ng Pangulo na aksiyunan ang mga hoarder at nagsasagawa ng profiteering. At kapag napatunayan na may sabwatan para tumaas ang presyo ng bigas, hindi mag-aatubili ang gobyernong kasuhan ang mga sangkot at ang maaaring pagpapataw ng price cap,” Castro said.
She also noted that Marcos warned against attempts by traders or other groups to take advantage of external shocks, including ongoing tensions in the Middle East that have been affecting fuel and commodity prices.
Despite these concerns, Tiu-Laurel reported during the meeting that the country’s rice supply remains sufficient and that there is no immediate justification for price increases.
However, the agriculture chief had earlier told a Senate hearing that rice prices could rise to as high as P62 per kilo by the next harvest season in September, citing higher fertilizer costs as a key factor.
In response to earlier price pressures, Marcos approved a P50-per-kilo price cap on imported well-milled rice in March to help cushion the impact of rising global fuel costs linked to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
The administration is also continuing its subsidized P20-per-kilo rice program through Kadiwa Centers, targeting vulnerable sectors such as senior citizens, solo parents, and beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.
The government said these combined measures aim to balance market stability with consumer protection as it navigates ongoing global and domestic economic challenges.