THE National Food Authority (NFA) has raised its buying price of clean, dry palay (unhusked rice) to as high as P30 per kilogram (kg) in some parts of the country.
Previously, the agency tasked with ensuring food security, maintaining buffer stocks of rice, and stabilizing supply and prices had paid P17/kg for fresh, wet palay and P21/kg for clean, dry palay.
The new P30/kg purchase price took effect Monday in Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Sorsogon, South Cotabato, Sarangani, Sultan Kudarat, Lanao del Sur, and Maguindanao, as well as in Dumalag in Capiz, Balete in Aklan, and Guihuingan City in Negros Oriental.
It has been in force since last week in Negros Oriental, Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental, Davao del Sur, and the municipalities of Calape and Mabini in Bohol, and Canlaon in Negros Oriental.
While many provinces confirmed higher NFA palay buying prices, others still maintained the old rates.
On the other hand, Agusan del Sur was the lone province that reduced its prices — from P28/kg in the week of April 6 to P26/kg this week.
Preliminary data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that average farmgate prices of dry palay rose by 28.0 percent year on year to P23.91/kg in March, from P18.28/kg in the same month in 2025.
Almost all provinces posted a year-on-year increase in average dry palay farmgate prices in March, except Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) — whose price dropped 10.4 percent to P19.42/kg in March, from P21.67/kg in the same month last year.
However, Caraga had the highest increase of 56.9 percent at P25.95/kg during the month, from P16.54/kg in the same period last year.
“We have a very strong harvest, so that‘s good news,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said on Tuesday.
Production cost is currently at P14 to P15/kg, Tiu Laurel noted, saying that “[farmgate] prices are unlike last year, so farmers are somehow earning now.”
Tiu Laurel added that he doesn‘t see retail prices of rice rising in the coming weeks. Current costs are already high, he said, which is why the Department of Agriculture is considering a price cap soonest.
The DA wants a P50/kg price cap on imported rice, Tiu Laurel said, but this is not necessary for local rice.
“I only hope that palay prices and retail prices translate into a balance,” Tiu Laurel said. “However, sometimes palay prices are lower while retail prices are very high.”
