Manila: The government's initiative to provide rice at PHP20 per kilo to more Filipinos across the country may be an effective alternative to direct cash transfers. Providing affordable rice directly addresses hunger and ensures that assistance reaches the dining tables of Filipino families, Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez said in a press release Friday.
According to Philippines News Agency, the Department of Agriculture (DA) has announced the pilot launch of rice at PHP20 per kilo in the Visayas, in line with the food security, accessibility, and affordability targets of the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. Under the proposed program announced by Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. on Wednesday, the DA, in partnership with Food Terminal Inc. (FTI) and participating local government units (LGUs), will shoulder the price difference between the market rate and the subsidized retail price. The collaborative funding mechanism aims to make the program sustainable and scalable nationwide.
Romualdez noted Camiguin province's successful implementation of a similar initiative, where collaboration among LGUs, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and local retailers enabled low-income households to access rice at half the usual price. Under the program, identified low-income households are issued identification cards, allowing them to buy rice from accredited retailers at a subsidized rate. The discount is shouldered through a fund supported by local and national agencies, particularly DSWD, while retailers are enlisted and supported to ensure a steady supply of quality rice at lower prices.
'The Camiguin model demonstrates the effectiveness of coordinated efforts among national agencies, LGUs, and private sector partners in delivering tangible benefits to the people,' Romualdez said. He added that it is a blueprint worth replicating nationwide. 'If it works in Camiguin, it can work across the country. This is a clear example of how the national government, LGUs, and private retailers can come together to deliver direct, practical relief to Filipino families,' he said.
Romualdez said the House of Representatives is prepared to push for sufficient funding in the 2026 national budget to institutionalize this rice subsidy system, in coordination with DSWD and local governments nationwide. 'This is not just a subsidy -- it's a signal that we are serious about food on every Filipino's table. With the help of the LGUs, the DSWD, and local store owners, we can make PHP20 per kilo rice into reality,' he said.
