Filipinos will be able to save a few pesos as Malacañang announced the expected drop in the prices of rice and pork in the market this month.

Citing a meeting with Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said the price of Dai Thom 8 (DT8) rice is expected to drop from P49 to P45 by March 31.

Meanwhile, the price of pork kasim and pigue will drop by March 10 to between P350 and P360 per kilo. Liempo, on the other hand, will be reduced to P380 per kilo.

In a press briefing on Wednesday, March 5, Castro said the decrease in the price of rice is due to the drop in the world price.

"Kung noon po ay may halaga po na pumapalo sa $700 to $740 per ton. Ngayon po ay bumaba, kung hindi po tayo nagkakamali, ay parang bumaba po sa $400 or lesser, $380 per ton (If before the price was hitting $700 to $740 per ton, now it has gone down—if we’re not mistaken—it seems to have dropped to $400 or less, $380 per ton)," she said.

"Isa lamang po 'yan sa nakikita po nating dahilan para bumaba ang presyo ng bigas (That is just one of the reasons behind the drop in the price of rice)," she added.

Castro explained that the price drop applies to DT8 rice, a high-quality, fragrant variety developed and cultivated in Vietnam. She, however, said that the 504 rice—which is also from Vietnam but is said to cook dry, fluffy, spongy, less fragrant, and can harden when it cools down—is cheaper at $400 per ton.

"Kaya lang po ang karamihan daw sa mga Pilipino ay mas gusto nila yung mas mahal na uri, yung DT8 (However, the said Filipinos prefer the more expensive variety, the DT8)," she said.

"Yun daw po talaga ang mas hinihingi ng consumers natin (That is what they said our consumers wanted more)," she added.

Meanwhile, Castro said she would consult again with Secretary Laurel as to the reason behind the drop in the price of pork.