MANILA, April 6 -- The Department of Agriculture (DA) said Saturday there are no plans to recommend a price ceiling or suggested retail price (SRP) on rice amid its inflation uptick of 24.4 percent in March.

"Wala kaming plano na magkaroon ng price cap or SRP kasi medyo may mga mabigat din na epekto iyan pagdating ng panahon (We don't plan to have a price cap or SRP because it could have a huge impact in the future)," Department of Agriculture Assistant Secretary Arnel De Mesa said at the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City.

The rice inflation in March eclipsed February's 23.7 percent and is the highest since 2009.

De Mesa explained that the increase was due to the low base effect for the same period in 2023, when rice was sold at PHP39...