NFA: Rice price hike temporary

The National Food Authority (NFA) confirmed the rising price of premium rice in the market, but assured the public that this may be temporary and supply is sufficient.

Lucy Rosales, spokesperson of the NFA 7, said that the P1 to P2 per kilo increase may only be temporary as prices are expected to go down with the onset of the harvest season next month.

In Colonnade Supermarket Cebu City yesterday, the price of Ganador was at P2,250 per sack or P46.00 per kilo compared to P2,080 per sack per kilo last week.

In Carcar Public Market, retailer Edwin Remo said the price of Ganador is now at P47 per kilo from P45/kilo in previous deliveries; while Lion Ivory is at P43.50 per kilo from P42/kilo.

Prices of other premium rice brands like Senandomeng are also rising.

Remo said that the retail price increase is just passed on to consumers as wholesalers are the ones who jack up the prices.

Rosales said bad weather from typhoons Labuyo and Mareng may have caused the rising rice prices. These typhoons hit some of the country’s major rice-producing provinces in Luzon.

Rosales said prices in malls or supermarkets are usually higher compared to the public markets like in Carbon.

She said prices for Ganador in Carbon and other markets ranges from P44 to 45 per kilo.

But Rosales said NFA is also distributing good quality but cheaper rice. She said they have the so-called iron-fortified rice at P27 per kilo and well-milled rice comparable to premium rice at P32/kilo.

“Di mabalaka ang consumers because at NFA, we are distributing the iron-fortified rice at P27/kilo and well-milled rice comparable to premium rice at P32 per kilo to stabilize the commercial rice,” she said.

Rosales also assured that NFA’s supply can last until January next year.

If this is not enough, she said, NFA 7 can ask additional 200,000 sacks from region 4.