President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. implements countrywide rice price ceilings: P41/kg for regular milled rice and P45/kg for well-milled rice.

“The mandated price ceilings shall remain in full force and effect unless lifted by the President,” says the EO.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) jointly proposed this measure due to a 4% to 14% increase in retail prices for both locally produced and imported rice during August.

It was issued subsequent to a sectoral meeting at Malacañang on August 29, during which Marcos received a briefing on the government’s efforts to secure an ample rice supply in the country.

“The mandated price ceilings shall remain in full force and effect unless lifted by the president upon the recommendation of the Price Coordinating Council or the DA and the DTI,” the executive order stated.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) forecasts a second-half rice supply of 10.15 million metric tons (MMT), comprising 2.53 MMT carried over from the first semester, an expected 7.20 MMT from local production, and a minimal 0.41 MMT from imported rice.