Visayas: The goal to bring down the price of rice to PHP20 per kilogram is a promise that is now being fulfilled, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. announced on Wednesday. This significant development follows the Department of Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.'s declaration that rice will be sold at this price in the Visayas region.
According to Philippines News Agency, President Marcos stated in a Facebook post, "Twenty pesos per kilo of rice. That's the promise - and now, we're starting to make it happen in the Visayas region." This achievement comes after a closed-door meeting between President Marcos and 12 governors from the region, leading to the pilot launch of the PHP20 per kilo rice initiative in Visayas.
The program is designed to allow indigent Filipinos to purchase rice at PHP20 per kilogram. Each family will be permitted to buy up to 10 kilograms per week, amounting to a total of 40 kilograms every month. Secretary Tiu Laurel mentioned that once logistical challenges are resolved, the PHP20 per kilo rice will be made available nationwide.
The reduction in rice price is attributed to the ongoing downward trend of rice prices in the global market. As of now, the National Food Authority (NFA) holds approximately 358,000 metric tons of rice stocks, sufficient to last for over nine days, moving towards its target national rice buffer stock of 15 days.
