MANILA, Philippines — In a decisive move to stabilize the cost of the country’s main staple, the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) have officially implemented a ₱50-per-kilogram price ceiling on imported well-milled rice.
The joint administrative order, signed on Monday, March 30, 2026, comes as the government grapples with “artificial” price spikes in urban centers, which officials attribute to hoarding and profiteering amid the ongoing global energy and logistics crisis.
The price cap specifically targets imported well-milled rice, which has recently seen retail prices soar as high as ₱58 to ₱62 in some Metro Manila markets. Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. clarified that the measure is necessary to protect consumers from “unreasonable” markups by importers and wholesalers who are citing higher shipping costs as a pretext for excessive pricing.
“While we acknowledge that global freight and fuel costs have risen, our data shows that the current retail prices for imported rice are no longer aligned with the actual landed cost,” Laurel stated. “This ₱50 cap ensures that the staple remains accessible to the average Filipino family.”
The government has mobilized “Price Monitoring Task Forces” across major trading hubs, including the Inter-Agency Task Force on Zero Hunger. Retailers found violating the ₱50 ceiling face stiff penalties under the Price Act (Republic Act No. 7581), including:
- Fines ranging from ₱5,000 to ₱2 million.
- Imprisonment of up to 15 years.
- Summary cancellation of business permits and licenses.
To ensure that the cap on imported rice does not inadvertently pull down the farmgate prices of local palay (unhusked rice), the DA announced it would ramp up its procurement program through the National Food Authority (NFA). The NFA will continue to buy local palay at a support price of ₱23 to ₱25 per kilo to maintain the income of Filipino farmers during the current harvest season.
While consumer advocacy groups hailed the move as a “victory for the poor,” some grains retailers expressed concern over their existing inventories. “We bought our current stocks at a high wholesale price. If we sell at ₱50, we will incur losses,” said a representative from a confederation of market vendors. In response, the DTI promised to provide “targeted subsidies” or credit facilities for small-scale retailers to help them transition to the new price structure.
The ₱50 price cap will remain in effect for a period of 60 days, subject to a bi-weekly review by the Price Coordinating Council.