SINCE the elections and banning period are over, the Bacolod City Government will start selling rice at P20 per kilo in identified retailing areas in the city this week, Secretary to the Mayor Marty Go said on Sunday, May 18, 2025.
Go said the City can now process to purchase the rice from the Department of Agriculture (DA) that will be sold at P20 per kilo.
He said they are only waiting for the purchase order from the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) that will be submitted to the National Food Authority (NFA) to get the rice supply.
He added that initially, they will purchase 5,880 bags of rice with a total cost of P7.7 million, including the subsidy from the City Government.
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 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.
Go said the excess of P20 will be subsidized by the LGU and the National Government, which is P6.50 each.
He said the sale of rice will be led by the City Cooperative and Livelihood Development Office, and most likely be available at the Bacolod Government Center (BCGC) and selected barangays, particularly the larger ones.
If it will be successful, he added the City will purchase an additional rice supply.
Under the program, each family will be allowed 10 kilos per week, with priority given to indigent families since it is still experimental.
Commission on Elections Chairman George Garcia earlier advised the government to defer the implementation of the project to avoid being accused of politicizing the rice rollout. (MAP)