President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. led the official launch of the P20-per-kilo rice program on July 2 at Zapote Public Market in Bacoor, Cavite—a key step toward delivering his campaign promise of affordable rice.
Alongside Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., Marcos personally oversaw the distribution of rice at the Kadiwa ng Pangulo outlet. The subsidized rice is reserved for members of vulnerable sectors, including 4Ps beneficiaries, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and solo parents. Eligible individuals may purchase between 5 to 10 kilos.
The initiative began with 500 sacks of rice sourced from local farmers through the National Food Authority (NFA), enough to serve 2,500 individuals at the current volume.
Marcos acknowledged that the program took time to roll out due to the need to first equip and support local farmers with resources like modern machinery. “We had to make sure our farmers could sustainably supply the demand,” he said.
The P20 rice program was first piloted in the Visayas, with Mindanao next in line later this month. The Department of Agriculture (DA) aims to scale the initiative nationwide by 2028, potentially reaching 15 million households—or around 60 million Filipinos.
Agriculture Secretary Tiu Laurel emphasized the program’s dual impact: easing costs for consumers while ensuring consistent demand for Filipino rice farmers. “Every sack of rice sold clears out palay stocks, which we then replace by purchasing new harvests from local producers,” he explained.
The government now has 94 Kadiwa outlets offering P20-per-kilo rice, underlining the Marcos administration’s commitment to stabilizing rice prices and boosting local agriculture.