Claim: Due to the hike in gasoline prices, the price of rice will increase to P300 per kilo starting April 1, 2026, with certain regions affected first.
Rating: False
Why we fact-checked this: Two Facebook reels posted by Lincod Bayan News PH on March 20 claimed that rice prices would soar to P300 per kilogram. The videos featured anchors presenting information as “breaking news,” and one of the videos showed text. “Nakupo! Maramin Maggutom” (Oh my god! Many people will go hungry).
one video exclaimed. “Maagang abiso sa lahat na tataas ang presyo ng bigas na aabot sa P300 ang isang kilo simula April 1 dahil sa mataas na presyo ng gasolina. Ang mga lugar na unang maaapektuhan ay makikisa post namin,tingnan.”
(We want to give you an early warning that due to the hike in gasoline prices, the price of rice will increase to P300 per kilo starting April 1st. Please check our post to see which areas will be affected first.)
As of this writing, the post has received over 280,000 views, 2,700 reactions, 280 comments, and over 1,100 shares.
fact: Rice prices will not reach P300 per kilo on April 1 or in the near future. Deepfake detectors like TruthScan and Hive Moderation flagged the video as potentially fake. This is consistent with a similar video previously debunked by Rappler, which was created using Google Gemini’s Veo 3, an advanced AI text video generation tool.
A link listing the locations where the price increase will take effect immediately is also fabricated. Rather than directing users to official listings, it redirects them to e-commerce websites verified through Bitly, leaving users at risk for phishing. (Read: Phishing 101: How to identify and avoid phishing)
Rice price: As of mid-March 2026, retail rice prices range from P40 to P63 per kilo depending on type and location.
Department of Agriculture (DA) Bantay Presho reported that as of March 18, premium imported rice in Metro Manila is selling for between P55 and P63 per kilogram. Imported milled rice costs between P45 and P49 per kilo, while the price of regular milled varieties ranges between P42 and P45.
For locally produced rice, the price of premium quality ranges from P46 to P60 per kilogram. Well-milled local rice costs an average of 45 pesos per kilo, while regular milled rice costs about 40 pesos. These figures are far below the claimed P300 per kilogram and reflect only a relatively small increase from P2 to P5.
Price scale: To prevent profiteering, the Prosecutor’s Office proposed on March 16 a cap of P50 per kilogram for imported rice.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the move was mainly driven by rising fuel and production costs due to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, despite stable supplies in the domestic food chain. Meanwhile, the proposed price cap is expected to be advanced after Holy Week.
The National Food Authority (NFA) continues to track and manage stocks on a daily basis, ensuring a stable supply while preventing both shortages and oversupply. The agency reported that 2 million bags of rice are ready for immediate distribution.
Trade Secretary Cristina Roque also confirmed that prices of basic commodities, including rice, have remained stable for the past 30 days. – Cyril Bokar/Rappler.com
Efren Cyril Bokar I am a student journalist based in . Llorente, Eastern Samaris also an alumnus of Rappler’s Aries Ruffo Journalism Fellowship 2024.
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