DA launch P20/rice in Cebu, to expand in other areas

In a statement, the DA announced that they finally fulfill a campaign promise and vow to expand it in some areas in the country.

“Today, Labor Day, we fulfill a promise made three years ago by President Marcos to the Filipino people: to bring down the price of rice to P20 per kilo. That promise is now a reality—Benteng Bigas Meron Na!” said Secretary Laurel.

During the occasion, the Food Terminal Inc. and the Provincial Government of Cebu signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) on the shared subsidy of the P20 rice initiative pilot test in the province. The pilot test, which will run until December, will cover other regions in the Visayas and should benefit around 800,000 households or 4 million people.

President Marcos has directed the DA to draw up plans to extend this food program until 2028 and expand it nationwide to cover as many financially-challenged Filipinos as possible. In his social media post, President Marcos likewise informed the public that his campaign promise is now a reality.

“20 pesos kada kilo na bigas. Iyan ang pangako—at ngayon, sinisimulan na natin itong maisakatuparan sa Visayas region,” President Marcos said.

Aside from Cebu in the Visayas, the DA planned to roll out KnP20—short for Katuparan ng Pangakong P20 na Bigas—in 16 locations across Metro Manila. According to Agriculture Assistant Secretary Genevieve Velicaria-Guevarra, who oversees the KADIWA ng Pangulo program, initial selling points include public markets in Bagong Silang (Caloocan City), Kamuning (Quezon City), Mandaluyong, and Pasay, and also to 16 other identified distribution centers within Metro Manila.

As expected, consumers in Palawan welcomed this development, but said that it will not happen this year, since, based on their observations in the past, Palawan wasn’t prioritized in several national programs.

“Matagal pa yan dito sa Palawan, lagi naman tayong nahuhuli. Tingnan mo nga sa minimum wage na nga lang mas mababa tayo kumpara sa ibang probinsya. Isa tayo sa pinaka-mababa. Pero mas mahal ang karneng manok at ibang bilihin natin. Sa Cebu mas mura manok doon at mas mura ang bilihin, pero ang minimum wage nila mas mataas” Raquel, a 39-year old mother from Barangay Minara, Roxas town said.

While 37-year old, Elmer, a massage therapist and a person with visual impairment said that despite the expected late implementation of the 20 per kilo rice in Palawan, the important is that, it will be made available sooner, since prices of rice locally is still more than P40-per kilo.

Last year in Palawan, efforts to bring cheaper rice made available to the public, was initiated by a group of farmers and irrigators associations in Narra town.

Raymundo Imaysay, manager of Palawan Agrarian Reform Communities Federation (Parcofed) said that they hold Kadiwa in Narra and in Barangay Luzviminda in Puerto Princesa to sell P20 per kilo of rice to identified beneficiaries.

Imaysay who is also the president of Ugnayang Magsasaka ng Ugmatorca, an irrigators association said that what they initiated last year was to organize a Kadiwa selling agricultural products at lower price. These Kadiwa was made possible with the support of 16 irrigators association under the Batang Batang River Irrigation System Irrigators Association in Narra, Palawan.

He further explained that the purpose of this initiative is to cushion the impact of poverty and to make cheaper basic products to the consumers.