MANILA — The Department of Agriculture (DA) is intensifying measures to keep food prices stable during the holiday season, Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. said Friday, pointing to recent declines in rice, corn, vegetable, and meat prices.

“The data behove us to make sure food prices are kept low to ease the financial burden of consumers, especially the poor,” Tiu Laurel said, noting that recent price drops help preserve the spending power of low-income households.

His remarks come as headline inflation eased to 1.5 percent in November—the slowest in three months—according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). Deflation continued for the country’s poorest 30 percent of households at 0.2 percent, following a 0.4 percent decline in October and far below last year’s 2.9 percent inflation.

Economic Planning Assistant Secretary Divina Gracia Del Prado highlighted the impact of falling staple prices, particularly rice, which dropped 15.4 percent, and corn, which fell 4.1 percent. “Rice accounts for 8.9 percent of the average Filipino’s consumption, but 17.9 percent of the basket of the poor,” she said, noting how easing grain prices directly benefits low-income families.

Tiu Laurel said the DA has implemented multiple interventions, including enforcing maximum suggested retail prices on imported rice, onions, and carrots, reinstating price caps on pork, and allowing imports of onions, carrots, meat, and fish to augment local supply.

“The DA has taken steps in recent weeks to ensure prices remain stable, if not lower, especially during the Christmas season when demand surges and price pressures intensify,” he said, adding that maintaining balance between farmers’ profitability and consumer affordability remains a key challenge.

PSA data show that cereals and cereal products reduced overall inflation by 3.3 percentage points, followed by sugar, desserts, fruits, and nuts, reflecting broad easing across key food categories.

Officials said keeping food prices steady during the holidays will be crucial for controlling inflation and sustaining consumption, a primary driver of the Philippine economy.