₱20/kilo rice for farmers in August

The Department of Agriculture (DA) will expand the government’s ₱20-per-kilo rice program to include farmers of the staple beginning next month, expanding access to cheaper rice for one of the country’s poorest sectors.

- By DEXTER BARRO II

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel said the government will incorporate rice farmers into the program starting Aug. 13, set to be implemented nationwide.

Tiu Laurel said this is the DA’s move to allow local farmers to also enjoy the steadily declining price of the commodity as consumers.

"At least maka-avail naman sila ng murang bigas (At least they can avail of cheaper rice)," he said on the sidelines of the 2025 post-State of the Nation Address (SONA) discussions with Cabinet Secretaries on Tuesday, July 29.

Based on data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the farmers sector had one of the highest poverty incidences in the country in 2023, only behind fisherfolk and indigenous peoples (IPs).

Currently, the P20-per-kilo rice is available for underprivileged sectors such as senior citizens, persons with disabilities (PWDs), solo parents, Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries, and minimum wage workers.

Unlike other beneficiaries of the program, rice farmers can avail of the P20 rice directly through booths of state-run Food Terminal Inc. (FTI).