The Department of Agriculture (DA) is preparing to slap show-cause orders against retailers who are selling imported rice beyond the maximum suggested retail price (MSRP) of ₱43 per kilo.

Despite the ongoing suspension of rice importation, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel said the agency will strictly monitor the price situation of remaining rice imports.

The monitoring, he said, was prompted by reports of price increases on imported rice in four markets in Metro Manila.

Tiu Laurel said the DA’s Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service (AMAS) unit will regularly conduct these market visits.

“If the complaints are validated, retailers will be issued show cause orders,” he said.

The DA, through AMAS, is set to send letters to four Metro Manila markets where elevated rice prices have been reported.

The AMAS will also monitor warehouses to assess current rice supply levels.

Tiu Laurel noted that the country ended last year with an excess rice import volume of around 1.2 million metric tons (MT), as traders took advantage of lower tariffs and global rice prices.

This year, an additional 800,000 MT of rice imports were added before the 60-day suspension was imposed in September.

Latest data from the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) showed that 3.28 million MT of rice has arrived in the country this year.

With the expected extension of the import ban, Tiu Laurel noted that demand for high-quality imported rice has increased, leading to tighter supply.

Nonetheless, he said the MSRP should remain at ₱43 per kilo for five-percent broken rice.

“There are still imported and local rice varieties selling for as low as ₱33 to ₱38 per kilo. Consumers just need to be more discerning in choosing where they buy,” the secretary said.

Based on the DA’s latest monitoring in Metro Manila markets, the average retail prices of premium rice, well-milled rice, and regular milled rice are ₱49 per kilo, ₱44 per kilo, and ₱40 per kilo, respectively.