Consumers are facing renewed pressure as rice prices continue to climb, with local varieties now selling between P60 and P67 per kilo at a public market in Parañaque City, as reported by RH Jecelle Ricafort.

At the La Huerta Public Market, retailers reported that premium local rice types such as Dinorado and Ifugao have reached as high as P67 per kilo—an increase of P7 from their previous price of P60 before tensions escalated in the Middle East. A 25-kilo sack of the same varieties now costs around P1,600, up from P1,400.

Other local rice options in the same market are being sold at slightly lower prices. Santa Rita rice, for instance, is priced at P62 per kilo, a notable jump from P55 just three weeks ago.

Prices of well-milled local rice currently range from P55 to P59 per kilo, compared to P52 to P56 previously. Meanwhile, regular-milled rice is now priced between P45 and P56 per kilo, up from the earlier range of P42 to P50.

Imported rice has also seen a sharp increase, rising by as much as P12—from P48 per kilo to P60.

Retailers attribute the spike in prices to higher transportation costs, driven by the continued rise in fuel prices linked to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Suppliers have also warned of possible further increases if fuel costs continue to climb.

Earlier, the Department of Agriculture had already monitored initial price hikes of around P3 for local rice and P5 for imported rice in various markets, signaling the start of a broader upward trend now being felt by consumers.