Iloilo Launches P20 Rice Program for Undernourished Families as the provincial government initiates measures to sell cheaper rice across the province.
The move responds to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to make rice available at P20 per kilogram.
In an interview with Bombo Radyo, Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. explained that Executive Order No. 40, series of 2025, officially launches the “SiPag at TiyaGa for MorProGRes sa Bagong Pilipinas” program under the expanded Rice Program of the government’s SERBISYO initiative.
The program aims to harvest six metric tons of palay per hectare from clustered MorProGRes Farms.
The provincial government, in partnership with the Department of Agriculture, will provide machinery, fertilizer, seeds, and other agricultural support to MorProGRes Farms, collecting harvested palay as payment, to be processed at the Rice Processing Center in Pototan and other facilities.
Defensor announced that the province will sell rice at the lowest possible price to families with malnourished children, identified through Iloilo’s ART Response Program.
In line with President Marcos’ P20-per-kilo rice call, Iloilo will also implement the “P20/kg Rice Program—Rice Para sa Bayan (RPB@20).”
Initially, RPB@20 rice will be available at MorProGRes KNP Centers, barangay rice outlets, and other government retail points as the program expands.
Defensor projected that about 12,000 families would benefit from this rice subsidy program.
He clarified that the P20/kilo rice initiative is a temporary measure while longer-term solutions to the rice supply issue are developed.
However, Defensor noted that there is no confirmed start date yet as the national government has not released the necessary funding, and the subsidy is set to last only until December this year.
Additionally, assistance programs like AICS, AKAP, and TUPAD will also be extended to beneficiaries depending on the availability of funds.