Presyo App: How to Check Palengke Prices Before You Shop

You're at the palengke. The tindera says ₱170 for a kilo of red onions. Is that fair, or are you being overcharged?

On September 26, 2026, the Department of Agriculture (DA) checked 38 markets in Metro Manila. Red onions were selling for anywhere from ₱80 to ₱170 per kilo. Same onion, same week — and one market charged more than twice as much as another.

Most of us only find out the fair price after we've paid. Presyo is a free app that fixes that. It puts the government's own price monitoring data on your phone, so you know the going rate before you leave the house.

Quick answer: Presyo (App Store name: Presyo Philippine Price Guide) is a free app for iPhone and iPad that shows the prevailing prices of rice, fish, meat, vegetables, fruits and other basic goods in Philippine wet markets. It uses the Department of Agriculture's Bantay Presyo price monitoring for all 17 regions and checks for new data every night. It also lists the DTI's Suggested Retail Prices (SRP) for branded groceries like canned sardines, milk, coffee and noodles. You can build a listahan that totals what your basket should cost, and use the offline Palengke Mode to check a vendor's price right at the stall.

Presyo at a Glance

Why Is It Hard to Know the Right Price?

The government already monitors prices. The problem is getting that information in a form you can actually use while shopping.

• Market prices live on a desktop website. The DA's Bantay Presyo site shows prices in big tables, one region and one category at a time. It only shows the latest numbers — no history.
• Grocery SRPs are in PDF files. The DTI publishes Suggested Retail Prices as long PDF bulletins that are hard to read on a phone.
• Two agencies, two lists. Under the Price Act (Republic Act No. 7581), the DA covers farm and fishery goods like rice, meat, fish and vegetables. The DTI covers manufactured basics like canned goods, milk, coffee, noodles, soap and batteries. To price a normal grocery run, you need both.
• The data isn't daily. The DA doesn't update every day, and each region follows its own schedule. You need to know how old a price is, not just the price.

So most families shop based on memory, hearsay, or last week's receipt. Presyo puts both lists in one app, in plain language, and always shows the date of the data.

What Presyo Does: 6 Features Explained

1. Palengke prices for your region

Open the app and you'll see the latest market prices for your region, sorted into 10 categories: rice, corn, legumes, fish, fruits, highland vegetables, lowland vegetables, meat and poultry, spices, and other basics like sugar, eggs and cooking oil.

Each item shows:

• The price range across all the markets the DA checked (for example, ₱55–66 per kilo)
• The typical price — the median, or middle price
• How many markets reported (for example, "23 of 38 markets")
• The "as of" date, with a badge that tells you if the data is fresh or getting old

A ticker at the top shows your region's biggest price movers since the last DA update: red when a price goes up, green when it goes down.

2. Grocery prices: the DTI SRP in your pocket

Switch from Palengke to Grocery to see the DTI's Suggested Retail Prices for branded basics. The current list covers 167 products in 26 categories, including:

• Canned sardines, corned beef, meat loaf and luncheon meat
• Condensed, evaporated and powdered milk
• 3-in-1 coffee
• Instant noodles and bread
• Bottled water, salt, vinegar, patis and soy sauce
• Laundry soap, bath soap, candles and batteries

The SRP is the same nationwide, so it works whether you're in Legazpi, Cebu or Davao. For example, a 155g can of sardines in tomato sauce has an SRP of ₱18 to ₱24.75 depending on the brand, based on the DTI bulletin effective May 11, 2026.

Important: an SRP is a benchmark — what an item should cost — not a price someone saw in a store. Presyo always labels SRPs separately from market prices, so you never mix up the two.

3. Price history and long-term trends

Tap any item to see the details:

• Prices per market, so you can see which palengke in your region is cheapest. In the example below, red onions were ₱75 at Balintawak Market and ₱90 at Muñoz Market on the same day.
• A price history chart that grows with every DA update.
• Long-term trends back to the year 2000, using Philippine Statistics Authority data published by the UN World Food Programme. Switch between 1 year, 5 years or the full history to see if today's price is high, normal, or a good deal for the season.

4. Listahan: know what your basket should cost

This is where Presyo becomes personal. Add the 10 to 15 things you usually buy — rice, eggs, galunggong, a can of sardines, 3-in-1 coffee — with the amount you buy. Presyo:

• Totals your whole listahan at current prices in your region
• Shows the low-to-high range across markets
• Tracks how your total changes week to week, in pesos and percent
• Keeps palengke items and SRP items honestly separate ("13 market items, 2 SRP items")

It's the easiest way to answer the question every household asks before payday: "Magkano kaya ang aabutin ng pamamalengke ngayong linggo?"

5. Palengke Mode: check the price at the stall

Palengke Mode is built for the moment you actually need it — standing in front of a stall, one hand holding your bayong, with weak signal.

• Big, high-contrast text that's easy to read outdoors
• Works offline. Everything loads from your phone, so you don't need signal
• The screen stays on while you shop
• Pick your exact market to see that market's own prices, if the DA monitors it
• Vendor check: type the price the vendor is asking, and Presyo instantly tells you if it's Mura (below the range), Sakto (within the range), or Mahal (above the range). For SRP items, it compares against the official SRP.
• No ads on this screen, ever

6. Weekly price digest

Turn on the weekly price digest to get a notification about prices in your region. It's available in English, Filipino, Cebuano and Bikol.

Sample Palengke Prices in Metro Manila (September 26, 2026)

Here's a sample of what Presyo showed for Metro Manila (NCR), based on DA monitoring as of September 26, 2026. Prices change every week, so open the app for today's numbers in your own region.

Source: DA Bantay Presyo, via Presyo. "Typical price" is the median across the markets that reported.

What this tells you: the gap between the cheapest and the most expensive market can be huge. Calamansi ranged from ₱40 to ₱180 per kilo. Pechay Baguio went from ₱80 to ₱280. Knowing the typical price gives you a fair starting point when you tawad.

How to Use Presyo: Step by Step

1. Download Presyo for free from the App Store.
2. Choose your region. Allow location to detect it automatically, or pick it yourself. The app works fine without location access.
3. Browse prices. Tap Palengke for market prices or Grocery for DTI SRPs. Use the search bar to find an item fast.
4. Build your listahan. Tap + on the items you usually buy and set the amount. Items in your listahan, and items you star, show up in Palengke Mode.
5. Open the app before you leave home. This downloads the latest prices to your phone, so everything works offline.
6. At the palengke, tap the Palengke button. Pick an item, type the vendor's price, and see if it's Mura, Sakto, or Mahal.

7 Tips to Save Money at the Palengke Using Presyo

1. Check the "as of" date first. Last week's price is a guide, not a promise. Presyo shows how fresh every price is.
2. Aim for the typical price, not the lowest. The lowest price may come from a single market far from you. The median is a fairer target.
3. Compare markets. Tap an item to see prices per market. If markets in your area differ a lot, a short trip could save you hundreds of pesos.
4. Buy what's in season. The long-term chart shows when an item is usually cheap. When onions or tomatoes spike, switch up your ulam.
5. Watch the movers. If galunggong jumped this week, bangus or tilapia may be the better buy.
6. Check the SRP at the sari-sari store and supermarket. Canned goods, coffee and noodles have official SRPs. If a store is way above, you'll know.
7. Budget your listahan before sahod. Your listahan total tells you how much to set aside, so there are no surprises at the palengke.

What to Do If a Store Sells Above the SRP

An SRP is a guide price agreed on by the DTI and manufacturers. Here's what you can do if you see a big markup:

• Compare first. Small differences can come from delivery costs, especially far from Metro Manila. Check that you're looking at the exact brand and size, since each product has its own SRP.
• Report it to the DTI. Call the DTI Consumer Care Hotline at 1-384 or email consumercare@dti.gov.ph with the store name, location, product and price.
• Know about price freezes. When an area is declared under a state of calamity, the Price Act automatically freezes the prices of basic necessities at their prevailing levels, for up to 60 days. Selling above the frozen price during that time is a violation.
• For palengke goods, talk to the market administrator. Public markets are run by your city or municipal government, which handles concerns about vendors.

For Barangay Officials: Help Your Residents Shop Smarter

When prices spike, residents often turn to their barangay first. Here's how you can help:

• Share weekly prices in your barangay's announcements. If you've claimed your barangay page on brgy.to, you can post price updates for your residents in the News section.
• Post SRP reminders for canned goods, milk and noodles at the barangay hall — especially during calamities, when the price freeze applies.
• Tell senior citizens and 4Ps families about Palengke Mode. Big text and offline use make it easy for everyone.

Not sure if your barangay has a page yet? Find your barangay on brgy.to.

Where Does Presyo Get Its Data? Is It Accurate?

Presyo doesn't make up or estimate prices. It republishes official data and always shows where each number comes from:

• Palengke prices come from the DA's Bantay Presyo portal, which publishes prices collected by the DA Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service (DA-AMAS) from monitored public markets in every region.
• Grocery prices come from the DTI's SRP bulletins for basic necessities and prime commodities.
• Long-term trends come from Philippine Statistics Authority price data, published by the UN World Food Programme on the Humanitarian Data Exchange.

A few things to keep in mind:

• Prices are ranges, not exact quotes. Every market and every vendor is different. Presyo shows the range and the typical price across monitored markets.
• The DA doesn't update every day. Some regions update several times a week, others less often. Presyo checks every night and always shows the "as of" date.
• Presyo is independent. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the DA, DTI, or PSA.
• No sign-up needed. You don't need an account, and your listahan stays on your phone.

Presyo vs. Checking Government Websites Yourself

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Presyo app?

Presyo (App Store name: Presyo Philippine Price Guide) is a free app for iPhone, iPad and Mac that shows Philippine palengke prices from the Department of Agriculture's Bantay Presyo monitoring, DTI Suggested Retail Prices (SRP) for branded groceries, and the total of your own listahan. It covers all 17 regions and has an offline Palengke Mode for checking prices at the stall.

Is Presyo free?

Yes. Presyo is free to download and use. It is supported by ads, with no subscription and no paid features. There are no ads in Palengke Mode.

Is Presyo available on Android?

Not yet. Presyo is currently available on the App Store for iPhone, iPad, and Macs with Apple silicon.

Where does Presyo get its prices?

Palengke prices come from the Department of Agriculture's Bantay Presyo portal (DA-AMAS price monitoring). Grocery prices come from the DTI's Suggested Retail Price bulletins. Long-term trends come from Philippine Statistics Authority price data published by the UN World Food Programme.

How often are the prices updated?

Presyo checks for new DA data every night at 2:00 a.m. Philippine time. The DA updates each region on its own schedule — some several times a week, others less often — so every price in the app shows its "as of" date. DTI SRPs change only a few times a year, when the DTI releases a new bulletin.

What is the difference between a market price and an SRP?

A market price is what vendors in DA-monitored palengkes were actually charging, shown as a range for your region. An SRP (Suggested Retail Price) is a benchmark set by the DTI for branded goods like canned sardines or 3-in-1 coffee. It is what the item should cost, and it is the same nationwide.

Does Presyo work without internet?

Yes. Open the app once while you are online to download the latest prices. After that, Palengke Mode and your saved prices work offline, which helps inside markets with weak signal.

Which regions does Presyo cover?

All 17 regions monitored by the DA: NCR, CAR, Ilocos Region (I), Cagayan Valley (II), Central Luzon (III), CALABARZON (IV-A), MIMAROPA (IV-B), Bicol Region (V), Western Visayas (VI), Central Visayas (VII), Eastern Visayas (VIII), Zamboanga Peninsula (IX), Northern Mindanao (X), Davao Region (XI), SOCCSKSARGEN (XII), Caraga (XIII), and BARMM.

Can I see prices for my specific palengke?

Yes, if the DA monitors it. Presyo covers 391 monitored markets. Tap any item to see prices market by market, or choose your market inside Palengke Mode to see that market's own prices.

Is Presyo a government app?

No. Presyo is an independent app by Kanto Projects. It uses public data from the DA, DTI and PSA, but it is not affiliated with or endorsed by any government agency.

How much is a kilo of rice in the Philippines today?

It depends on your region and the type of rice. As of September 26, 2026, local well-milled rice in Metro Manila palengkes ranged from ₱40 to ₱56 per kilo (typical price ₱50), and local premium rice from ₱45 to ₱60 per kilo (typical price ₱55). Open Presyo for today's price in your region.

What languages does Presyo support?

English, Filipino, Cebuano and Bikol. You can switch languages inside the app.

Download Presyo

Presyo is free on the App Store for iPhone, iPad and Mac. Download it before your next trip to the palengke:

Get Presyo on the App Store →

Learn more at presyo.kantoprojects.com. Have feedback or a feature idea? The Presyo team takes suggestions at apps@kantoprojects.com.