Manila, May 8 -- The Department of Agriculture (DA) is hoping the PHP20 per kilogram rice sale of the "high quality" soon-to-age and aging stocks of the National Food Authority (NFA) will further tame rice inflation in the country.

This came after the rice index in April contributed to a slower food inflation, which eased to 0.7 percent from 2.3 percent and 6.3 percent in March and April 2024, respectively, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

The PSA reported a sharper year-on-year decline of the rice index at 10.9 percent from a 7.7 percent annual drop in March.

In a Zoom interview on Thursday, Agriculture deputy spokesperson Assistant Secretary Joycel Panlilio said the cheaper rice sale may help influence retail m...