Rice prices to stabilize by August

MANILA - Malacañang yesterday said that rice prices are expected to stabilize in the next two months.

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said that the National Food Authority (NFA) is monitoring the situation.

“Tinututukan ng NFA ang galaw ng presyo ng bigas, at ayon sa kanila, ito ay dulot ng market forces,

dahil ito ay low-season ng supply at inaasahan nilang magi-stabilize ito kapag dumating na ‘ yung inangkat na bigas mula sa ibang bansa, at inaasahan nilang magi-stabilize ang presyo sa susunod na dalawang buwan,” said Coloma in a press briefing.

Rice prices have reportedly increased by P2, bringing the average retail price of well-milled rice to P42.19 per kilo, and milled rice to P38.93 per kilo.

As for the prices of garlic and ginger, Coloma said the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Trade and Industry are closely watching the movement in their prices.

“Mayroong mga suggested retail prices para sa mga bagay na ito at hindi natin pahihintulutan na maging labis ang pagsingil o walang katuwiran,” he said.

The price per kilo of garlic has reportedly reached as much as P300.

“Dahil nga ang pinaguusapan dito ay mga prime commodities, masinsing tinututukan ito ng ating pamahalaan para tiyakin na walang magiging pinsala sa kapakanan ng ating mga mamamayan,” said Coloma. (SDR/Sunnex)