By Stephanie Sevillano
MANILA – Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. on Tuesday said around 4 million Filipinos may benefit from the PHP20 per kg. rice program in pilot areas in the Visayas.
This comes ahead of the initial launch of PHP20/kg. rice program in Cebu province and in eight select Kadiwa ng Pangulo (KNP) Centers in Metro Manila on May 1 and 2, respectively.
“Iyong (The) initial target for the Region 6, 7, 8, [Western, Central, and Eastern Visayas], and Negros Island region was almost 800,000 families, so, times five [family members], 4 million individuals… Hindi pa kasama iyong (excluding beneficiaries in) Kadiwa,” Tiu Laurel said in a press conference at the DA Central Office in Quezon City.
The initial participating KNP sites in Metro Manila on May 2 are Agribusiness Development Center (ADC), Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), and Philippine National Police (PNP) Camp Crame in Quezon City; Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) in Malate, Manila; Philippine Fiber Industry (PhilFIDA) in Las Piñas; Bagong Sibol Market in Marikina City; Disiplina Village in Ugong, Valenzuela City; and Navotas City Hall in Navotas.
Other local government units (LGU) that joined the DA in the sale of PHP33 per kg. under the food security emergency, likewise, may also participate in the pilot launch of the P20/kg. rice project.
These include San Juan City, Navotas, and the National Housing Authority (NHA) site in Metro Manila; Isabela; San Rafael, Bulacan; Palayan, Nueva Ecija; Siniloan, Laguna; Camarines Sur; Cotabato; and Mati City in Davao Oriental.
The DA, however, said the pilot launch in KNP sites in Metro Manila may be rescheduled if the Commission on Elections (Comelec) does not allow the sale within 10 days before the midterm polls.
“Kung hindi talaga pwede ito. Susunod tayo sa Comelec at uumpisahan ang bentahan matapos ang halalan (If this is really prohibited. We will abide by the Comelec and we will start the sale after the elections). Of course, we are requesting the Comelec na ma-grant ito para mabenepisyuhan na ang (to grant this to benefit the) consumers,” Tiu Laurel said.
For its nationwide implementation, he said the DA may roll out the PHP20/kg. rice program in January 2026.
The DA said each family has a 40 kg. monthly purchase limit every month in Visayas, while the vulnerable sector will have a 30 kg. monthly limit in the Kadiwa centers.
Meanwhile, the DA will utilize the PHP4.5 billion budget from the contingency fund of the Office of the President (OP).
Under the PHP20/kg. rice program, the Food Terminal Incorporated (FTI) will use the fund to cover the PHP13/kg. subsidy as it buys “high quality” well-milled rice, which will be a mixture of aging and soon-to-age stocks, from the National Food Authority.
Participating LGUs in Visayas will shoulder half of the PHP13/kg. subsidy or PHP6.5/kg. to sell it to consumers at PHP20/kg.
To date, Tiu Laurel said the DA is studying various approaches to ensure the sustainability of the program.
Around 15 million or 51 percent of the population are eyed to benefit under the program from 2026 to 2028. (PNA)
