3 hours ago
3
Upgrade to High-Speed Internet for only ₱1499/month!
Enjoy up to 100 Mbps fiber broadband, perfect for browsing, streaming, and gaming.
Visit Suniway.ph to learn
Josiah Antonio - The Philippine Star
March 26, 2026 | 12:00am
“I don’t want to do this, but we could import what we need to ensure supply is sufficient. We could always cut tariffs to mitigate the impact of higher freight costs,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said.
STAR / File
MANILA, Philippines — Food prices could rise as Middle East tensions affect logistics and input costs, particularly urea-based fertilizer, the Department of Agriculture said yesterday.
“I don’t want to do this, but we could import what we need to ensure supply is sufficient. We could always cut tariffs to mitigate the impact of higher freight costs,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said.
Rice supply remains stable, he noted, as stocks held by the National Food Authority are enough to feed the population for over nine days, while domestic palay harvest is nearing its peak.
Sustained increase in production costs could begin to affect rice prices by August, Tiu Laurel said.
Pork inventories remain sufficient, while broiler production is running above demand, the DA said.
