P20/kilo rice rollout ready

As Cebu Province is expected to be the first local government unit to implement the administration's P20-per-kilo rice program, the National Food Authority in Central Visayas (NFA-7) is fully prepared for the rollout across the entire island.

- Kristin de Dios Mitchelle Palaubsanon Staff Member Le Antojado Correspondent

Acting Regional Information Officer of NFA-7, Olma Marie Nedia, said they have already prepared the rice stocks to be released to the LGUs in Cebu Province, as the selling of the P20-per-kilo rice is set to begin on May 1, 2025.

"For the P20 rice program, we are very ready here at NFA-Cebu," said Nedia.

She said that there are currently 11,000 bags of rice stored in their warehouse ready for distribution.

In fact, classifiers from the NFA-Cebu Branch Office are already assigned at the warehouse to inspect the stocks that will be released to the LGUs for the program.

Nedia clarified that the 11,000 bags stored in the warehouse are solely intended for Cebu Province, as this is the Cebu Provincial Government's allocation.

Meanwhile, the NFA branch offices in Negros Oriental and Bohol also have their own stock allocations, Nedia added.

As of Monday, April 28, 2025, Nedia said that no LGU has yet withdrawn sacks of rice from their warehouse.

"As of this time, wala pay LGU nga naka-withdraw relative to the P20 program," she said.

She added that NFA-7 is still awaiting instructions from the head office to commence the withdrawal of stocks from the warehouse to the LGUs.

"Anytime, it can start because the stocks are ready in the warehouse," Nedia said, emphasizing that NFA-7 is ready to release the rice.

Aside from the 11,000 bags of rice, the current inventory will be augmented by shipments arriving from source regions such as Region 6, and expected arrivals from Region 4 and Region 10.

"Ito yung tutulong na mag build up yung ating inventory, so that we can issue stocks for this program," Nedia explained.

She said that the 11,000 bags are for the initial distribution, since the LGUs will not be withdrawing their full allocations all at once.

"In the coming days darating ang stocks from the source regions and maa-accommodate yung allocation ng mga LGU dito sa Cebu Province," Nedia assured.