THE Bacolod City Government will launch the selling of rice at P20 per kilo on Thursday, June 5, 2025, with Department of Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. at the Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC), Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said.
Benitez said the City allotted at least P8 million to purchase the rice from the DA that will be sold at P20 per kilo.
Under the program, he said each family will be allowed 10 kilos per week, with priority given to indigent families since it is still experimental.
The DA earlier announced the pilot launch of P20 per kilo of rice in the Visayas as one of the campaign promises of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during the 2022 presidential race.
The Food Terminal Inc. (FTI), as the implementing arm of the DA for the sale of rice to the LGUs, will procure rice from the National Food Authority (NFA) at a price of P33 per kilo and sell the same to the local government units (LGUs) at a subsidized rate of P26.50 per kilo.
Consequently, the LGUs will resell the rice to their respective constituents at a subsidized rate of P20 per kilo. The subsidy of at least P13 per kilo will be equally shouldered by the FTI and the LGU concerned.
Benitez said the excess of P20 will be subsidized by the LGU and the National Government, which is P6.50 each.
He said NFA informed them that they have at least 9,000 sacks of rice intended for Bacolod City.
Benitez noted that this is a national program and it was the target of DA to implement the P20 per kilo of rice until February 2026 but Marcos wants it to last until the end of his term in June 2028.
“As long as the national program is in place, the local government unit will also continue the program,” Benitez said.
Secretary to the Mayor Marty Go said the sale of rice will be led by the City Cooperative and Livelihood Development Office, and most likely be available at the BCGC and selected barangays, particularly the larger ones.
He said there will be a clustering of barangays so that all residents can avail the P20 per kilo of rice. (MAP)