

House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and House Deputy Majority Leader Erwin Tulfo conducted a price monitoring and supply inspection at Farmers Market in Cubao, Quezon City on Monday, Nov. 27.
The two House leaders particularly inspected prices noche buena ingridients and products such as rice, onions garlic, vegetables, meat and other basic necessities.
In an interview, Romualdez told reporters that they observed a price increase in rice products.
"Sinasabi nila na okay naman yung presyo ng gulay at saka karne. Nakita lang natin yung presyo ng bigas, medyo tumataas na naman," he said.
As of Nov. 24, the agriculture department's price monitoring showed that well milled rice is priced at P45 per kilogram, premium rice at P57 per kilo, and special rice at P60.48 per kilo.
Romualdez mentioned that they might visit the rice warehouses in Bulacan to determine the cause of the price hike.
"Ayun [Bulacan] yung talagang source eh, nandoon yung trader at importer. Susubukan natin malaman yung talagang dahilan kung bakit tumataas na naman nang kaonti yung bigas," he said.
"Although meron dito, yung pinakamababa na P45 [...] Baka kulang yung imports, 'diba hinahalo yung local production at importation pero c-check natin. Babantayan natin regularly para malaman natin kung sapat ba yung supply o may nang ho-hoard na naman. Babanatayan din natin ang importation," the House Speaker added.
Romualdez stressed the importance of sufficient and affordable noche buena products.
"Malapit na ang pasko, one month to go na. Importante na ang mga kababayang Pilipino ay may sapat na bilihin at nasa tamang presyo," he said.
Last Nov. 22, the trade and industry department released the 2023 noche buena price guide wherein 152 out of 240 noche buena items have increased as compared to last year.