P20/kilo rice nationwide

With less than three weeks before Filipinos head to the polls, the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is moving forward with a major campaign promise: the launch of rice at P20 per kilo, set for a nationwide rollout next week.

- Mitchelle Palaubsanon, Staff Member

The initiative was initially discussed with provincial leaders during a meeting at the Cebu Provincial Capitol yesterday, where the President personally led the talks with Visayas officials.

However, it was later confirmed in a press conference led by Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia that the program, originally planned for a Visayas rollout, will instead be implemented nationwide.

"The good thing about this is not going to be in the Cebu Province alone, this is going to be launched nationwide," said Governor Garcia.

Garcia said that the President has personally taken up the fulfillment of his campaign promise and is pursuing it at a more holistic level with the Department of Agriculture (DA) onboard. She emphasized that local palay farmers will also benefit from the program with a guaranteed market for their produce.

"It takes all of us joining hands together with a President who is bent on fullfilling a promise that will directly affect those that are just trying to eke out a living everyday," said Governor Garcia.

Garcia added that it would be beneficial to implement the program as soon as possible.

"Because I believe the people are waiting for the opportunity to purchase rice at P20 and it's always good when a promise is fulfilled. And here we are seeing the President really trying his best that a campaign promise is fulfilled," Governor Garcia said.

In a media briefing, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the national government, through the DA, is working closely with local government units to implement the program.

"The DA team has been working day and night on how to bring this to reality. Maraming steps kailangan para mangyari to," he said, adding that the program is expected to be sustained until 2028.