Food prices have remained broadly stable despite rising fuel costs, citing prices of galunggong and tamban falling sharply, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said, suggesting that adequate supply is helping cushion the impact of higher logistics expenses.
According to the DA, the end of the fishing ban on January 31 boosted catches of staple fish such as galunggong and tamban, pulling prices lower. Galunggong fell sharply to around P200 per kilo from as high as P330, while tamban eased to P130 from P140. Galunggong is known as the “poor man’s fish” in the Philippines due to its affordability and abundance.
In addition, most alternative protein sources—including chicken, eggs, fish, and vegetables—have either held steady or declined as of April 13. Improved supply has been a key stabilizer, the DA added.
The DA’s Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service showed selective price increases in imported rice and local beef and pork following the February 28 US-Israel airstrike on Iran.
To curb rising prices of imported rice, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had said he is considering an executive order to impose a P50 per kilo price cap, as prevailing market prices have climbed to around P60.
The trend underscores a familiar dynamic: while fuel-driven cost pressures ripple through the supply chain, ample domestic production can blunt their effect on retail prices. Still, risks remain. Sustained oil volatility could eventually feed into broader food inflation, particularly for imported goods and transport-heavy commodities.
“The DA Bantay Presyo Supply and Monitoring Team is on top of the situation, closely tracking both supply and prices of basis necessities and prime commodities across markets nationwide,” said Assistant Secretary Genevieve Velicaria-Guevarra.
“We continue to monitor key agri-fishery products, including rice, cooking oil, sugar, pork, beef, chicken, tilapia, bangus, eggs, and vegetables. Based on our latest data, prevailing retail prices remain generally stable and are still fair and justifiable relative to farmgate prices, despite rising fuel costs,” she added.
For now, the DA’s data points to a market that remains relatively well-supplied, alongside possibly softer demand as households contend with higher costs for other goods. Inflation rose to 4.1 percent in March, up from 2.4 percent in February and 1.8 percent in March 2025.
