The government is exhausting all efforts to lower the prices and increase the production of food commodities, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said Friday.

Marcos made the assurance during the national kick-off celebration of the Filipino Food Month 2025 here at the Quezon Provincial Capitol Grounds.

“Bilang tugon, inilunsad natin ang iba’t ibang programa upang mapababa ang presyo ng pagkain at mapadami ang produksyon nito (In response, we have launched various programs to lower food prices and increase food production),” he said.

“Kaya naman ang pamahalaan ay patuloy na gumagawa ng mga hakbang upang masiguro na may sapat at murang pagkain para sa bawat Pilipino (That is why the government continues to take steps to ensure that there is enough and affordable food for every Filipino).”

Marcos said the government is offering cheaper rice through the Kadiwa ng Pangulo’s (KNP) Rice for All and P29 programs.

He added the implementation of maximum suggested retail price for pork and the allocation of funds for agricultural programs are crucial in making sure that Filipinos would get affordable and nutritious food.

“Sa ganitong paraan, ang mura at dekalidad na pagkaing Pilipino ay magbibigay lakas sa ating katawan [at] magpapayaman pa sa kultura natin at pagkakakilanlan (This way, cheap and quality Filipino food will strengthen our bodies [and] enrich our culture and identity),” Marcos said.

Marcos also encouraged his fellow Filipinos to preserve the country’s traditions by promoting local cuisines.

The latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed the inflation rate in March 2025 settled at 1.8 percent, the lowest since June 2020.

Last month’s inflation was lower than the 2.1 percent logged in February 2025 and 3.7 percent recorded in March 2024.

The PSA attributed the slower pace of price increases in March 2025 to the easing of food and non-alcoholic beverages inflation at 2.2 percent from 2.6 percent a month ago.

The commodity group shared 50.2 percent to the downtrend in inflation.

The commodity group includes rice, which recorded negative inflation for the past three months: -2.3 percent in January, -8.4 percent in February, and -7.7 percent in March. (PNA)