DOLE Launches P20/Kilo Rice Program for Minimum Wage Earners

Minimum wage earners across the country can now purchase rice at P20 per kilo following the national expansion of a government subsidy program aimed at easing living costs for low-income workers.

- By CHRISTINE BOTON

Jointly implemented by the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the initiative provides access to rice sourced from stocks purchased by the National Food Authority (NFA) from local farmers.

Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said extending the program to cover minimum wage earners is expected to improve their purchasing capacity.

"If a worker buys 10 kilos of rice at P20 per kilo, that translates to a savings of P100 to P200—funds they can allocate for other essential needs," he said.

Initially launched in Cebu on May 1, the program is in its pilot phase until December. Nearly 120,000 workers from more than 500 establishments are expected to benefit in the early stages, with participation projected to grow as more employers join.

The initiative also targets other vulnerable sectors such as solo parents, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and indigent families, aiming to assist as many as 14 million Filipinos.

The Department of Agriculture has been directed to continue and expand the program through the end of President Marcos' term in 2028.

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