Bigas at Cooking Oil Prices Tumaas Pa — Rice Hits P55/Kilo as Oil Crisis Ripples Through Palengke

Kung akala mo sa gas stations lang ang sakit ng presyo, think again. The Philippine Statistics Authority just dropped data showing that rice and cooking oil prices continued their upward climb in early March 2026, adding more pain to already-stretched household budgets.

Well-milled rice now averages P55.10 per kilogram based on PSA data from March 1-5, up from P53.54 in late February and P52.62 in early February. That's a steady climb na ramdam ng every Filipino family buying bigas sa palengke. Cooking oil is also inching higher, hitting P194.26 per liter — a number that has cooks and carinderia owners alike shaking their heads.

There's a silver lining sa protein side, though. Fresh pork with bones dropped to P308.82/kg from P311.74 in mid-February, while galunggong — the quintessential "poor man's fish" — eased to P243.01/kg. Red onions also fell to P167.67/kg, and tomatoes saw a welcome decline to P86.30/kg from last month's P95.74.

Year-on-year, however, rice and cooking oil remain above their 2025 levels, reflecting ongoing cost pressures that analysts attribute to rising global oil and transport costs, seasonal harvest patterns, and volatile commodity markets. The ongoing Middle East crisis and its effect on fuel prices are making matters worse, driving up logistics costs across the entire food supply chain.

For policymakers and ordinary Filipinos alike, the numbers paint a clear picture: the oil crisis isn't just about what's happening at the gas pump — it's showing up sa ating mga plato. With diesel now above P100/liter pushing transport costs higher, food inflation shows no signs of letting up anytime soon.

Source: Daily Tribune