‘Today the price of rice rose by P5 a kilo’

Amid the blame game that agriculture and food officials seem to have resorted to, the price of rice went up by P5 per kilogram, much to the consternation of consumers.

Rising rice price and allegations of corruption in rice importation prompted lobby group Ang Gawad Pinoy Consumers Cooperative, represented by social entrepreneur and economist lawyer Tonike Padilla to nudge Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Proceso Alcala and National Food Authority (NFA) Administrator Orlan Calayag to “stop pointing fingers” and instead focus on ensuring that the country has a steady supply of affordable rice.