Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel is casting doubt on the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) projection that inflation likely quickened in September due to higher rice prices, maintaining that retail prices of the staple remain stable. The BSP estimated that last month’s inflation rate...
The Department of Agriculture (DA) is expanding access to the government’s ₱20 per kilo rice program, now allowing rice farmers and farm workers who planted the staple to avail themselves of the cheap rice. In a statement, the DA announced that the rice program will now cover members of the...
With rice prices still seen to have dropped further recently, the central bank has forecast that increases in consumer prices likely slowed even more in July, following the five-and-a-half-year lows of 1.4 percent in June and 1.3 percent in May. As such, private-sector economists said that the...
Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel is open to kick off the pilot run of its ₱20-per-kilo program after the 2025 midterm elections, citing complications with the 10-day spending ban. Last week, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) issued a memorandum order to...
The Marcos administration is ready to spend ₱10 billion to ₱12 billion to subsidize the upcoming pilot run of its ₱20-per-kilo rice program in the Visayas region and Kadiwa ng Pangulo (KNP) stores, according to Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel. In a briefing on Tuesday, April...
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel The Department of Agriculture (DA) announced that its initiative of selling rice at ₱20 per kilo will be expanded into the Kadiwa ng Pangulo (KNP) program and participating local government units (LGUs) nationwide, starting on Friday, May 2....
President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. (left), Albay 2nd district Rep. Joey Salceda (MANILA BULLETIN, Facebook) For economist-solon Albay 2nd district Rep. Joey Salceda, President Marcos' roll-out of P20-per-kilo rice was a bullseye...
The Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) delivered more than 30,000 machines to farmers, cooperatives, and local government units (LGUs) in 2024, as the agency moves to lower the cost of rice production. In its accomplishment report submitted to Agriculture...
(Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN) Senatorial candidate ACT-CIS Party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo is batting for the restoration of the National Food Authority’s (NFA) mandate to buy palay (unhusked rice) from local farmers and sell the...
Former DA secretary Manny Piñol (left), Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre (Facebook) It was during Manny Piñol's tenure as Department of Agriculture (DA) secretary in the previous Duterte administration that prices of rice--the Filipino staple...
Senatorial candidate Kiko Pangilinan said the Department of Agriculture’s proposal to establish a floor price for palay was a necessary step to protect Filipino rice farmers and address the country’s deepening food crisis. “Matagal na nating panawagan ito: siguruhing may sapat na kita ang mga...
(MANILA BULLETIN) House Speaker Martin Romualdez has called the slower inflation posted in March as a "welcome development", especially with food prices continuing to drop. “This is a welcome development. As I have been saying, this shows...
