Manila, Philippines - July 17, 2024

Soaring rice prices in the Philippines have sparked public discontent, stoking fears of worsening food insecurity among low-income households as rice is the primary staple food of Filipino people.

At a public market in the Metropolitan Manila, rice prices have been revised several times due to uncertainty in the market.

According to rice shop owners, the most commonly purchased rice variety by Manila residents currently ranges between 59 to 62 Philippine pesos (or about 1.01 to 1.06 U.S. dollars) per kilogram. In contrast, just last September, the same rice variety was priced at 40 pesos per kilogram (or about 0.69 U.S. dollars).

The continuous increase in rice prices in the Philippines can be attributed in part to external factors such as the El Nino phenomenon and the ban on rice exports from India. However, Wilson Lee, a Filipino columnist, believes that the government's failure to address pressing domestic issues is also a significant factor.

The current Philippine government had promised to provide rice to the public at the affordable price of 20 pesos per kilogram (or about 0.34 U.S. dollars). However, the rising prices have ignited public dissatisfaction.

At least 76 percent of Filipinos said they disapprove of the government's response to inflation, and 72 percent of Filipinos consider tempering inflation as the most pressing national concern, according to a poll released by the Philippine polling firm Pulse Asia on July 12.

Meanwhile, frequent security incidents in the Philippines have raised concerns among the public and deterred potential tourists. Lee suggested that the government should focus on combating crime and maintaining domestic security instead of allocating insufficient resources to so-called "external defense."
"We are still worried about foreign policy stability. There is still stability needs for the Philippines. Many people hope there will be less conflicts, less talk about military exercises and all these military things, more talk about investments and tourism," said Lee.

Shotlist:
Manila, Philippines - July 17, 2024:
1. Various of price tags, rice for sale;
2. SOUNDBITE (Filipino) Eliza Fortaleza, rice shop owner (ending with shot 3):
"Selling rice is not as profitable as before. We used to buy and sell larger quantities, but now people buy less when the prices are high.";
3. Various of price tags, rice for sale;
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Lea Tomarong, customer (starting with shot 3/ending with shot 5):
"It affects us a lot. Because in our business it's free food. So, we usually buy rice here in the market, but because of inflation, we usually buy fewer kilos now.";
5. Various of price tags, rice for sale;
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Wilson Lee, columnist (ending with shot 7):
"I think the number one priority of government should be to increase productivity of rice. Our Filipino rice farmers have been neglected for many years already, and agricultural modernization has always been a promise of many politicians, but not yet fulfilled now.";
7. Various of shop owner fill bowl with rice, putting rice into pot;
8. Various of shop owner, vegetables for sale;
Philippines - July 19, 2024
9. Aerial shots of city view, traffic, river;
Manila, Philippines - July 17, 2024
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Wilson Lee, columnist (ending with shot 11):
"We are still worried about foreign policy stability. There is still stability needs for the Philippines. Many people hope there will be less conflicts, less talk about military exercises and all these military things, more talk about investments and tourism.";
Philippines - July 19, 2024
11. Aerial shots of traffic, river.

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