BAGUIO CITY – Following the imposition of Maximum Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of imported rice (5% broken) in the National Capital Region (NCR), the Department of Agriculture – Cordillera (DA-CAR) consulted with rice retailers, wholesalers, and concerned agencies on February 21, 2025, in Baguio City.
This is aligned with the DA’s move to address the unprecedented rising price trend wherein it recently issued three (3) Administrative Circulars setting the MSRP of imported rice (5% broken) in NCR at ₱58, ₱55, and ₱52, respectively.
The DA-CAR then consulted with Baguio City and La Trinidad wholesalers, retailers, and concerned agencies including the DA-Bureau of Plant Industry, National Food Authority, Department of Trade and Industry and Bureau of Customs.
During the discussion, retailers raised concerns about the challenges of complying with the MSRP, citing capital mark-ups and additional expenses such as handling and logistics. While markets in Metro Manila source their supplies directly from the Port of Manila, the retailers and wholesalers in Baguio and La Trinidad procure their supplies in Isabela, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac and Pangasinan with additional costs.
As a result, the rice stakeholders unanimously recommended an MSRP of ₱55/kg in Baguio and La Trinidad for 5% broken imported rice based on the cost structure prepared during the consultation.
It was also clarified that special rice, including Japonica, is not included in the said MSRP.
Based on the DA-CAR’s price monitoring from January 2024 to February this year, a decrease in rice prices was observed in Baguio City and Lagawe Public Markets, to ₱55 and ₱60, respectively. Meanwhile, in La Trinidad, prices fluctuated, ranging from ₱60 to ₱58, and up to ₱61.
Citing an extraordinary price increase, DA Chief Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. declared a food security emergency on rice on February 3, 2025. By Cy-j E. Waytan
