Manila, Sept. 8 -- The Department of Agriculture (DA) said Tuesday that no price spikes in retail rice are projected in the country amid fuel price hikes.

In a phone interview, DA spokesperson Assistant Secretary Arnel De Mesa allayed concerns that the oil price hike may prompt quicker rice inflation.

"We're not expecting or seeing huge increases sa presyo ng bigas (in rice prices)," he told the Philippine News Agency.

As of Monday, the prevailing price of premium imported rice in Metro Manila is PHP50, while imported well-milled and regular-milled rice remain low at PHP48 and PHP45, respectively, according to the DA - Bantay Presyo.

Premium local rice, meanwhile, costs from PHP48 to PHP60 per kg.; local well-milled rice, from PHP40 t...