THE National Government has assured that the selling of rice at P20 per kilo will continue until 2028.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco “Kiko” Tiu Laurel Jr., who led the launching of selling of rice at P20 per kilo at Burgos Public Market in Bacolod City on Thursday morning, June 5, said it is the standing order of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to sustain the affordable rice program in the country.
“It’s also part of President Marcos directive to make sure a good quality of rice that retailed at P20,” Laurel said.
Under the program, each family will be allowed 10 kilos per week, with priority given to indigent families since it is still experimental.
The City Government of Bacolod prioritized senior citizens, solo parents, persons with disabilities (PWDs), and members of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) to avail of the P20 per kilo of rice.
The DA earlier announced the pilot launch of P20 per kilo of rice in the Visayas as one of the campaign promises of Marcos 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.
The excess of P20 will be subsidized by the LGU and the National Government, which is P6.50 each.
Laurel explained that the shared subsidy of the national government to the city will last until December 2025, but the National Government program, which is P20 per kilo rice for 15 million households, will continue on January 1, 2026 until June 2028.
“From 2026 onwards is a national government program and each family will be allowed 10 kilos per month,” Laurel said.
He said it’s up to the LGU to distribute the affordable rice to its constituents.
Laurel was also accompanied by Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, who assured that all residents of Bacolod can avail the P20 per kilo rice.
“We just prioritized the sectoral groups, but eventually we will procure more rice to be retailed at P20 per kilo for all the Bacolodnons,” Benitez said.
He said they are also waiting for the inventory of the NFA to determine the total number of sacks of rice to be allocated for Bacolod.
After the launching in Bacolod City, DA will also hold the launching of P20 per kilo of rice in Siquijor.
Laurel and the city officials also led the tasting of P20 per kilo NFA rice at Burgos Public Market, assuring the good quality of rice.
The sale of rice was led by the City Cooperative and Livelihood Development Office (CCLDO).
Moreover, Brenda Burdeos, CCLDO head, said currently, the P20 per kilo rice is available at Burgos Public Market, Central Public Market and Libertad Public Market.
She said the City allocated a total of 200 sacks of rice to Burgos Public Market, 50 sacks to Central Public Market, and another 50 sacks to Libertad Public Market, adding that they also allocated at least 100 sacks at the Bacolod City Government Center.
Burdeos noted that initially, the city purchased 5,880 bags of rice with a total cost of P7.9 million, including the subsidy from the City Government.
She said they will start selling P20 per kilo of rice in the barangays on Friday, June 6, where they allocated at least 50 or 70 bags of rice for each barangay.
Burdeos said the city’s rice supply is only intended for the residents of Bacolod City since the towns and cities in Negros Occidental have also their own affordable rice program.
She disclosed that they also required the beneficiaries to present their valid identification card to ensure that they are Bacolodnons. (MAP)