Filipino consumers can be assured of sufficient supply of rice and meat during the Christmas season, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA).

In a statement, the DA said the Philippines has experienced an increase in local palay (unhusked rice) production, citing the supply outlook provided by its National Rice Program.

Latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed the country's rice inventory as of July reached 2.03 million metric tons, down by 6.6 percent from 2.2 million MT in the same period a year prior. This was also a decrease of 2.7 percent from the previous month's 2.1 million MT.

The DA, however, said that the impact of the ongoing drought in China on the cost of producing palay, as well as the presence of rice varieties from other countries, might affect retail prices.

Locally produced regular milled rice retailed for P38 per kilogram in Metro Manila as of Wednesday, unchanged from a year ago, while well-milled rice was priced at P41 per kg, slightly lower than P42 per kg last year, based on the DA's price monitoring.

Premium and special rice sold locally was sold for P45 per kg and P50 per kg, unchanged from a year ago.

Meanwhile, imported regular milled rice was priced at P38 per kg and well-milled rice at P40.33 per kg. No data on the prices of these rice varieties last year was provided.

Imported premium and special rice, on the other hand, were sold for P45 per kg and P50 per kg, also unchanged.

The DA's livestock group, comprised of the Bureau of Animal Industry, the National Meat Inspection Service, the National Dairy Authority, the Philippine Carabao Center and the International Training Center on Pig Husbandry, confirmed the country's meat sufficiency, particularly with the domestic stockpile of chickens and pigs.

Its Philippine Food Supply, Demand and Sufficiency Outlook for 2022 showed the total broiler supply for the year was 1.82 million MT, the majority of which 1.65 million MT were cultivated domestically.

"With the demand for broilers expected at around 1.64 million MT this year, consumers are assured that there will be a generous supply to last up to early 2023," it added.

While the demand for pork was pegged at 1.79 million MT—about 100,000 MT higher than the current supply—domestic output was estimated at 1.34 million MT, comprising the majority of total pork supply.

The DA said only 290,000 MT of pork were imported last year.Pork ham (kasim) was priced at P300 per kg, higher than P290 per kg while pork liempo was at P370 per kg from P340 per kg, figures from the DA showed. Whole chicken was sold for P185 per kg from P140 per kg.

"However, the DA price monitoring group also released on the same day a list of NCR markets that revealed some vendors selling chicken and pork at much lower prices," the DA said. INQ