P20 per kilo rice program is being eyed by the Department of Agriculture (DA) to continue until 2028, following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to institutionalize the availability of affordable rice.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the original plan was to sell low-cost rice only until December 2025, with a possible extension until February next year.
However, during a meeting with President Marcos on Monday, it was agreed that each household in the Visayas would be allowed to purchase up to 10 kilos of the P20 rice weekly or 40 kilos per month.
The Visayas region was chosen for the pilot implementation of the program, as it was identified as having a high number of families in need of affordable rice.
Laurel added that the DA intends to eventually expand the P20 rice program nationwide once logistical and supply mechanisms are fully in place.
He assured the public that sufficient rice stocks are available in the Visayas, particularly in Iloilo City, to support the initiative’s rollout.
According to Laurel, the DA currently holds a total of 358,000 metric tons of rice stored across various warehouses, which should now be released as it coincides with the harvest season.