Manila, March 6 -- Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Thursday lauded efforts of the Marcos administration to ease the prices of rice and pork, as he emphasized the need for these decreases to benefit consumers directly.

"The expected reduction in rice and pork prices is welcome news for consumers, offering much-needed relief after months of elevated commodity prices," Gatchalian said in a statement.

On Wednesday, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said rice prices have been dropping since December 2024.

This is attributed to the sharp tariff reduction on rice imports ordered by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., various DA programs such as the Rice for All under the Kadiwa ng Pangulo, and the declaration of a food security emergency that a...