DILIMAN, Quezon City — Beginning this month on January 20, the maximum suggested retail price (MSRP) for imported rice has been set at ₱58 per kilo, the Department of Agriculture (DA) announced. According to agriculture secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, "(the) MSRP aims to strike a delicate balance between business sustainability and the welfare of consumers and farmers.''

''We must ensure the price of rice is fair and affordable even as we make sure that the rice industry remains profitable. We cannot allow the greed of a few to jeopardize the well-being of an entire nation," Tiu Laurel clarified.

Correspondingly, the MSRP will be implemented initially in Metro Manila and its enforcement will be reviewed every month to take into account several factors, including the global price of the grain.
“We think that if the current direction of global prices holds, the MSRP will be lower after the review,” the agriculture chief enthused.

DA officials explained that the maximum suggested retail price was determined after having extensive consultations with importers, retailers, rice industry stakeholders, government agencies and law enforcement bodies.

It also disclosed that the rice import volume had reached a record of 4.7 million metric tons in 2024 as falling prices and lower tariff created a disincentive for smugglers. This allowed the market to accurately reflect the volume of rice imported into the country.