BY: ANGELICA ARQUERO
“The president said prices would go down, but why are they increasing now?” Erlinda Garin, a consumer, questioned.
Nanay Erlinda is finding it more challenging to budget due to the rising cost of rice.
The 10 kilos of rice her family used to consume in two weeks must now last for a month.
Due to health concerns, her doctor has recommended she eat brown rice, further straining her budget.
She and other consumers are hoping rice prices will decrease soon.
“Why aren’t prices going down? President Marcos said prices would decrease, but they’re still so high. You can’t find any low-priced rice. He should fulfill his promise to lower rice prices so people can be happy,” Garin added.
In Baguio City Public Market, well-milled rice that used to cost 30 pesos is now priced at 45 pesos to 47 pesos per kilo.
Regular milled rice has increased from 40 pesos to 43 pesos.
Local rice varieties like Sinandomeng and Dinorado, previously priced between 40 pesos and 45 pesos, now range from 50 pesos to P55 pesos.
Imported rice has risen from 50 pesos to P55 pesos to over 60 pesos per kilo.
According to rice retailer John Paul Peralta, the price increases are due to the costs set by traders.
He explained that these prices depend on what they pay to traders, along with labor and transportation costs.
“Even if the distributors sell rice at lower prices, the rice mills and traders still dictate their own prices. They include trucking, delivery, and fuel costs, so they add markups. We have no choice but to adjust our prices too.”
Retailers, too, are burdened by sluggish sales and operational costs.
“There are fewer buyers now, but we’re expecting more tourists and events at the end of January and February in Baguio City. We’re hoping sales will pick up a bit then,” Peralta added.
Due to the rising rice prices, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. supports the Department of Agriculture’s plan to declare a food security emergency in the country.
PBBM mentioned, “The reason we’re doing this is because we’ve done everything to lower rice prices, but the market isn’t functioning properly. The demand-supply curve isn’t being followed, and despite reducing inputs, prices remain high.”
The National Food Authority plans to release its buffer stock to the market to help bring down rice prices, targeting implementation on February 1.
“It should happen everywhere because every place has poor people. Not everyone has money,” said Garin.
“It would be a big help, especially if the NFA starts distributing rice to public markets. At least our fellow citizens can buy rice at a lower price,” said Peralta.
Meanwhile, a maximum suggested retail price of P58 per kilo for imported rice was implemented in Metro Manila starting January 20.
