CEBU Governor Gwendolyn Garcia has temporarily suspended the P20-per-kilo rice sale, a key initiative under the ‘Sugbo Merkadong Barato’ (SMB) program, pending clarification from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) regarding election-related restrictions.
The announcement, made during a press conference at the Cebu Provincial Capitol on Saturday, May 3, 2025, came two days after the program’s official launch on May 1.
The pause will remain in effect until after the May 12, 2025, national and local elections.
Governor Garcia said that while Cebu received an exemption from the election ban for its SMB initiative, she requires a definitive opinion from Comelec on the rice subsidy program.
“I’m hoping that I can get a definitive position from the Comelec,” Garcia said.
The decision follows a statement from Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia, who declared that all forms of financial assistance, or “ayuda,” are prohibited during the election period from May 2 to May 12, with exceptions only for medical and burial assistance.
Capitol consultant, Atty. Rory Jon Sepulveda, clarified that the program is not being canceled but merely postponed out of respect for Comelec’s guidance.
“The term is not to discontinue, but to defer it for now while we are checking on it…We have to be clear about it,” Sepulveda said in a mix of Cebuano and English.
Officials added that the province is prepared to resume the P20 rice sale after May 13, regardless of whether Comelec has issued a final decision by then.
The Department of Agriculture’s (DA) Kadiwa ng Pangulo P20 (KnP20) program fulfills President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s campaign promise to make rice available at an affordable price of P20 per kilogram.
This initiative operates under the broader Kadiwa framework, which connects farmers and fisherfolk directly with consumers, aiming to lower food costs.
KnP20 specifically involves selling rice, sourced from the National Food Authority (NFA), at a heavily subsidized rate to ease the financial burden on Filipinos, especially vulnerable sectors like senior citizens and low-income families.
Meanwhile, rice consumers in Mandaue City are urging local authorities to make the P20-per-kilo rice more accessible by distributing it through public markets, emphasizing the significant benefit to low-income families.
Pabling Villagorda, a local buyer, said in an interview on Friday, May 2, that the affordable rice is a major relief for his family. “This is really a big help for our family. We hope this won’t just be for now since the elections are near, but that it will continue,” Villagorda said.
In Mandaue City’s public market, rice vendors reported a P1 to P4 drop in the prices of commercial rice, attributing the decline to suppliers lowering prices. Felipa Gungob, a rice vendor, expressed interest in selling the P20-per-kilo rice but noted the procedural challenges and profitability concerns for retailers. / DPC, CAV