THE P20-per-kilo rice program in Lapu-Lapu City remains unimplemented as the City Government has not allocated the necessary subsidy, said Councilor Annabeth Cuizon, chairperson of the Committee on Finance.
The national initiative is part of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s broader commitment to making staple food items more affordable through targeted government intervention.
In his fourth State of the Nation Address, Marcos said recent efforts have shown that it is achievable to bring rice prices down to P20 per kilo without placing undue burden on local farmers.
The low-cost rice is currently distributed through Kadiwa ng Pangulo centers located in Metro Manila, Cebu, Pangasinan, Cavite, Occidental Mindoro, Bacolod, Guimaras, Siquijor and Davao del Sur.
Distribution is limited to vulnerable sectors such as senior citizens, single parents, persons with disabilities, and beneficiaries of the government’s conditional cash transfer program, the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.
Subsidy
Cuizon told reporters that in Lapu-Lapu City, the subsidy for the initiative has not been included in the City’s budget, preventing the local implementation of the P20-per-kilo rice program.
She explained that to implement the program, the City Government must provide an additional P6 subsidy per kilo on top of existing support from the Department of Agriculture or Food Terminal Inc.
However, the City Government has not allocated any budget for the program as of July 2025.
“It needs to be studied and review the budget to see if the City Government can afford to subsidize P6 per kilo of the rice,” Cuizon said in a mix of Cebuano and English.
Cuizon also cited several considerations for the program’s implementation, stating that a system still needs to be established to determine eligibility and outline the appropriate distribution process.
She said limiting access to the program would be challenging, as the goal is to ensure that everyone benefits. If only select individuals are served, it could be perceived as unfair to others.
Cuizon added that the subsidy is being considered for inclusion in the 2025 budget. / DPC