Tagbilaran City, the capital of Bohol province, is facing a rice crisis as the prices of the staple food continue to rise in the local market.
According to a report by a concerned citizen on Facebook, the price of rice in the city central public market ranges from P56 to P58 per kilo as of Friday morning (August 20, 2023). This is higher than the price of rice in Cortes town, which is from P50 to P55 per kilo, as posted by another netizen on Thursday.
The report also said that the price of corn, which is often used as a substitute for rice, is also high at P50 per kilo. The citizen said that he only bought the expensive rice because he will mix it with his own white rice crop.
The high price of rice in Tagbilaran is attributed to the low supply of the commodity in the province. Bohol is not self-sufficient in rice production and relies on imports from other regions. However, due to the pandemic and the recent typhoons, the supply of rice has been disrupted and delayed.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) has assured that it is working with the National Food Authority (NFA) and the local government units (LGUs) to address the rice shortage and stabilize the prices in Bohol.
DA said that it will provide additional rice allocation to Bohol from its buffer stocks and facilitate the transport of rice from other sources.
The agency also urged the consumers to be vigilant and report any overpricing or hoarding of rice in their areas.
DA said that it will monitor and enforce the suggested retail prices (SRPs) of rice and other basic commodities in coordination with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).