Even with the government imposition of P41 to P45 rice price ceiling,  the price of rice in the country remains unaffordable for many consumers given the rising cost of other commodities amid the hike of petroleum products.

This was according to farmers’ group Kilusang Magbubukid ng Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) which said the price of rice can be further reduced to P37 per kilo.

In a statement, the KMP noted that the rice supply being sold by retailers was from the previous harvest which they purchased for farmgate price of P16 to P20 per kilo.

“Dapat talagang maibaba ang presyo ng bigas dahil hindi na katanggap-tanggap sa masa ang nakapamahal na presyo nito (The price of rice should be lowered because its expensive price is no longer acceptable to the public),” said KMP Chairperson Danilo Ramos.

The KMP has urged the people to remain watchful about the rice crisis, which directly impacts the country's primary staple.

“We must continue asserting our right to food. The rice issue is political as much as it is a major economic concern,” it stated.

Meanwhile, Ramos said that dishonest traders are exploiting the situation to make enormous gains by trading in rice, stockpiling supplies, and manipulating prices.

“The  government's successive raids of rice warehouses would be only for show if nobody will be punished and brought before the law.”

Recently, President and Agriculture Secretary Ferdinand "Bongbong" R. Marcos Jr. has approved the recommendation to implement a rice price cap in the country.

Through Executive Order (EO) No. 39, the mandated price ceiling for regular milled rice is P41 per kilo, while it is P45 per kilo of well-milled rice.