MANILA – Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Thursday lauded efforts of the Marcos administration to ease the prices of rice and pork, as he emphasized the need for these decreases to benefit consumers directly.
“The expected reduction in rice and pork prices is welcome news for consumers, offering much-needed relief after months of elevated commodity prices,” Gatchalian said in a statement.
On Wednesday, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said rice prices have been dropping since December 2024.
This is attributed to the sharp tariff reduction on rice imports ordered by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., various DA programs such as the Rice for All under the Kadiwa ng Pangulo, and the declaration of a food security emergency that allowed the National Food Authority (NFA) to release its rice stocks to local government units.
Meanwhile, the retail prices of pork may start to drop in the middle of March due to a decline in farmgate prices, the cooperation of pork industry traders and retailers, and the expected implementation of a maximum suggested retail price (MSRP) for pork by March 10.
However, Gatchalian said the government must ensure that the price reductions are fully reflected at the retail level, “to allow Filipino families to allocate more of their hard-earned income to other basic necessities.”
He urged the DA and the Department of Trade and Industry to intensify price monitoring efforts and crackdown on unfair market practices, including hoarding and price manipulation, to prevent consumers from being burdened by artificially inflated prices.
“I also call on retailers and suppliers to do their part in keeping food prices reasonable,” he said.
Gatchalian also stressed the importance of strengthening support to farmers and livestock raisers to boost production and reduce costs to ensure the sustainability of lower prices. (PNA)