Philippine Agriculture Secretary Predicts Rice Price Rise to P62 per Kilo by September

MANILA, Philippines – Department of Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. stated that rice prices may increase to between P60 and P62 per kilo by September, attributing the rise to elevated fertilizer costs. He made the statement during a Senate hearing on April 29, 2026.

Tiu Laurel noted that if farmers continue traditional practices using urea without adopting alternatives, the price could reach P62 per kilo based on recent computations.

The government is proposing the use of biofertilizers developed at the University of the Philippines Los Baños. These biofertilizers are cheaper and more environment-friendly than urea but cannot fully replace it. Additional measures under consideration include blending imported and locally produced rice, as well as combining white corn with rice to maintain affordability for consumers.

of April 27, 2026, the average price of premium rice in the National Capital Region stood at P58.87 per kilo. Well-milled rice averaged P48 per kilo, and regular-milled rice was at P42.50 per kilo. Tiu Laurel indicated that for farmers to achieve profits in September, farm gate prices should be P22 per kilo for wet palay and P27 per kilo for dry palay, given current fertilizer prices.

production and security issues may intensify due to an impending El Niño event. The phenomenon led to P57.8 billion in agricultural production losses in 2024. The government is reviving its El Niño Task Force, which includes various agencies, to address these challenges.