The price of commercial rice has lowered down by at least P10 and the supply of rice in the region is now stable, the Department of Agriculture and the National Food Authority said yesterday.
From P35 per kilo, commercial rice in the markets now costs only P25 to P27 per kilo while well-milled rice has gone down to P38 per kilo from P43 in the past two weeks.
On the other hand, the rice being supplied by the National Food Authority now costs P18.25 while newly harvested “palay” costs P13 to P14 per kilo. Alternative NFA palay also costs P17 per kilo.
Even if Region 7 is not a rice producer, DA regional director Ricardo Oblena said the status of rice supply in the region is stable owing to the harvests in Argao town and Carcar City. Rice supply in Central Visayas is also reportedly expected to constantly stabilize until December this year.
The region has been importing rice from different regions such as in Mindanao, Leyte, Iloilo and some portions of Luzon.
Meanwhile, the NFA also aims to procure 10,000 bags for Cebu sometime next month or in October. The price of NFA rice would also reportedly lower down further if the moisture content of palay would be at 14 percent and below.
Moreover, DA Secretary Arthur Yap also said it is no longer necessary to import rice and if ever the country would still import in the next few months, the same would already serve as “buffer stocks” for next year.
Yap said DA will be closely monitor rice production in the country especially with the entrance of the rainy season. — Cressida Paula Delmo/JMO