THE national average retail price for well-milled rice in mid-November was P52.92 per kilogram (kg), according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
Prices rose 1.26% in the Nov. 15-17 period, which the PSA refers to as the second phase of the month, compared with prices between Nov. 1 and 5, or the first phase.
The highest retail price was P56.19 per kg in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao or BARMM.
On the low end was the Ilocos Region where rice was retailing for P48.71 per kg during the period.
The PSA reported that regular-milled rice averaged P47.42 per kg, up 2.38% compared to the first phase.
The highest price for regular-milled rice was also recorded in BARMM with an average of P51.75 per kg, while Cagayan Valley posted the lowest average price of P42.92 per kg.
During the second phase of November, the national average retail price for refined sugar was P91.59 per kg, down 0.37% from the first phase.
Prices in the Eastern Visayas were the highest at P103.58 per kg. The lowest price was reported in BARMM at P81.95 per kg.
Brown sugar averaged P80.85 per kg, a 0.4% decline from the previous phase.
The PSA reported that brown sugar prices were highest in Calabarzon at P88.86 per kg during the period.
The lowest average price was reported in the Zamboanga Peninsula at P73.7 per kg.
On Sunday, sugar producers urged the government to intervene due to the continued decline of raw sugar farmgate prices compared to market prices, according to Manuel R. Lamata, president of the United Sugar Producers Federation of the Philippines.
Mr. Lamata added that sugar prices have declined to P2,300-P2,500 per 50-kilo bag, which is below production cost levels.
The Sugar Regulatory Administration has said that it will be pushing for a suggested retail price for refined sugar of P85 per kg.
Meanwhile, the PSA reported that the average price for red onion rose 6.16% to P192.18 per kg compared with the previous phase of November.
Soccsksargen recorded the highest average retail price of P237.97 per kg, while the lowest was recorded in Central Luzon at P143.8 per kg. — Adrian H. Halili
