P20-per-kilo rice program to stay, Marcos assures

National

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has affirmed that the government's P20-per-kilo rice initiative is not just a campaign promise, but a long-term subsidy aimed at benefiting the country’s most vulnerable sectors.

“This P20 rice is here to stay,” Marcos declared in a vlog posted on Youtube.

In the vlog released by the Palace, the President emphasized the administration’s goal to make affordable rice available to all Filipinos, especially those in need.

The subsidy, which is currently implemented through Kadiwa ng Pangulo outlets under the “Benteng Bigas Meron Na!” program, is targeted at indigents, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, solo parents, 4Ps beneficiaries, and minimum-wage earners.

“We are doing everything to make sure that cheap rice will be accessible not only at Kadiwa but in more public markets nationwide,” Marcos explained.

To support this effort, Marcos said the National Food Authority (NFA) will continue buying palay at fair prices—P18 per kilo for wet and P19 to P23 per kilo for dry—to protect farmers’ income.

“We don’t want our farmers to suffer losses. They should earn well while the public benefits from lower rice prices,” he added.

Marcos stressed that this approach not only keeps rice affordable for consumers but also secures the livelihood of Filipino farmers.

“By buying directly from farmers, we eliminate unnecessary middlemen and give our farmers the fair income they deserve,” he explained.

He added that further investments in processing facilities, dryers, and mobile soil laboratories will boost agricultural productivity and reduce reliance on traders.

“This is how we strengthen food security and bring dignity back to farming,” he said.

The president also emphasized the administration's ongoing efforts to modernize agriculture, including investing in processing centers, soil labs, and drying facilities, to uplift farmers and encourage more youth to enter farming. (Edmie Rocaan Apdujan, UV Comm Intern)