QUEZON CITY, Philippines – The price of commercial rice remains high despite the availability of imported rice procured by the National Food Authority (NFA) in local markets.
In Kamuning Market in Quezon City, for instance, the price of well-milled rice shot up by P2.00 a kilo.
Retailers say it is normal for the price of rice to go higher during lean months or this time of the year, but they noticed that the current prices are indeed staggering.
“Sabi ng mga dealer na kinukunan namin, ‘Kumuha ka na ng marami sinasabihan na kita kasi next week iba na naman ang presyo’,” said Cresencia Sario, a retailer at Kamuning Market.
A new delivery of the NFA rice arrived at Kamuning Market last Monday (August 14).
Its price remained at P32.00 per kilogram but also of the same quality as commercial rice which sells at P45.00 per kilogram.
The lowest price of NFA rice is at P27.00 per kilogram.
But for the agri group, Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG), lowering the price at this time is a challenge, as they project a P5.00 per kilogram increase in the coming days.
The reason, the group said, is the shortage of buffer stock in national warehouses.
“Ang nakikita lang natin iyong local buffer stock is nasa 200,000 metric tons more or less. So good for 5 to 6 days na lang iyon. Iyong sa NFA 250,000 metric tons good for (5 to 6 days also),” said Rosendo So of SINAG. – Rey Pelayo / Marje Pelayo
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