The Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) conducted their first joint market monitoring this year in Quezon City on January 10, 2025 to survey supply and prices of essential agricultural commodities during the post-holiday season.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. and Trade Secretary Ma. Cristina A. Roque led the Special Joint Market Monitoring at the Murphy Public Market and at the SM Hypermarket in Cubao to ensure the availability and affordability of basic commodities.
They checked the Murphy Public Market’s Kadiwa ng Pangulo (KNP) Rice-for-All (RFA) kiosk, which offers affordable rice at P36/kilogram (kg) and P40/kg.
Secretary Tiu Laurel assured the public that affordable rice options meet quality standards before they are introduced to the market. The DA, he said, maintains stringent quality checks for the affordable rice options before they hit the market. He explained that the P36/kg rice, known as “Sulit rice,” is 100% broken but retainstaste and texture of good quality rice.
“Hindi natin gustong pababain nang pababain masyado ang presyo ng bigas sa average price dahil at the end of the day, ang importante rin ay kumita ang ating farmers. Pag sila hindi na kumita, hindi na sila magtanim, mas malaking problema yan,” the secretary said.
He highlighted the importance of balancing benefits for both farmers and consumers.
“Affordable, fair price to all. Iyon ang habol natin,” the agri chief stressed.
In addition to the ‘sulit rice’, the other inexpensive rice options under the KNP include the RFA 5 or 5% broken rice sold at P45/kg, RFA25 or 25% broken rice worth P40/kg, and the P29/kg rice from the National Food Authority (NFA) stock.
To increase the availability of affordable rice, the DA aims to collaborate with Metro Manila mayors and expand partnerships to 180 markets by next month.
During the market monitoring, the team also inspected the public markets’ designated “Timbangan ng Bayan,” the sections for rice retail, meat, poultry, fish, vegetables, and spices, and the stalls’ compliance to proper labelling and pricing of the agri commodities.
The agri chief emphasized the labelling suggestions for local and imported rice sacks and retail options including the details on its origin, type, percent broken, and importer (for imported rice), or miller (for local rice).
Through regular marketing monitoring, the DA and DTI committed to ensuring the availability of affordable food commodities for all consumers.
The cabinet secretaries were accompanied by DA Assistant Secretaries Genevieve E. Velicaria-Guevarra (Consumer Affairs) and Arnel V. De Mesa (Spokesperson) , DTI Assistant Secretary Agaton Teodoro O. Uvero, Joseph Rudolph C. Lo of the Food Terminal Inc. (FTI), and other officials and representatives from the DA, DTI, and Quezon City local government unit. ###(Gumamela Celes Bejarin-Rosas, DA-AFID)
