Malacañang assured the public that the government’s P20 per kilo rice program in the Visayas will remain unaffected despite the defeat of Cebu Governor Gwendolyn “Gwen” Garcia in the recent midterm elections.
During a press briefing, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro emphasized that government services are meant for the people, regardless of the political outcome.
“We don’t see Garcia’s loss impacting the program. Governance is about public service, not about who wins or loses,” Castro said, urging local leaders to remain supportive and open to national initiatives.
Garcia, a known ally of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., was a strong backer of the rice subsidy program, which launched its pilot in the Visayas. She lost the 2025 gubernatorial race to Pam Baricuatro, who has expressed willingness to continue Garcia’s projects, including the rice subsidy initiative.
President Marcos has allocated ₱4.5 billion from his contingency fund to support the program and directed the Department of Agriculture to sustain it until the end of his term in 2028.
Currently, the initiative is also being implemented in 12 Kadiwa ng Pangulo centers across Metro Manila and nearby provinces.