Pres. Bongbong Marcos Speaks on P20 Per Kilo Rice Program
BONGBONG MARCOS – Amid questions, the Philippine President assured the Filipinos that the P20 per kilo rice program will continue.
Countless different reactions from Filipinos crossed the surface after the Department of Agriculture previously announced that P20 per kilo rice will be available in Visayas. However, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) immediately suggested to the DA to temporarily stops the delivery of affordable rice to avoid it from being linked to the May 2025 Elections.
The agriculture department heed the advice of the Comelec while promising to the Filipinos that the delivery of the P20 per kilo rice will immediately resume after the elections. The affordable rice is a campaign promise of Pres. Bongbong Marcos.
Before the resumption of the program, it was announced that aside from Visayas, the P20 per kilo rice will also be available in several areas in Luzon. The officials of the Department of Agriculture also assured the people that the rice that will be sold at a cheaper cost is safe for human consumption.
Vice Pres. Sara Duterte previously criticized the P20 per kilo rice sale saying that it should be fit for human consumption. The Vice President who has an ongoing rift with Pres. Bongbong Marcos also claimed that the fulfillment of the campaign promise is quite late already.
The officials of the agriculture department ate the NFA rice that will be sold at P20 per kilo during a press conference to show to the public that it is safe. The DA also admitted that it was “deeply hurt” by the remarks of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte.
Despite the issues and questions, Pres. Bongbong Marcos recently assured the Filipinos again that the “20 rice is here to stay”. Based on a report on The Manila Times, the Chief Executive claimed that the program is sustainable.
“Tuloy-tuloy na ito… It is achievable, it is sustainable kaya abangan ninyo in your nearest public market,” the President said.
According to Pres. Bongbong Marcos, the National Food Authority (NFA) is buying fresh unhusked rice or palay from farmers at P18 per kilo while they buy the dried unhusked grains between P19 to P23 per kilo. Based on the report, the Chief Executive said the farmers previously had no choice as they don’t have post-harvest processing facilities.
“Kaya nagkakaroon tayo ng daan daan na processing para naman yung mga farmer mayroon na siyang dryer, mamimili na siya kung saan niya dadalhin yung tuyo na palay kaya hindi na siya mapipilitan sa kung anong presyo ang binibigay sa kaniya ng trader,” he said.
Pres. Bongbong Marcos said the national government is also investing in mobile soil laboratories aside from drying facilities and processors. He stressed that having mobile soil laboratories in in the pursuit of improving the farming conditions.
Previously, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte refused to share her knowledge with Pres. Bongbong Marcos after admitting that the P20 per kilo rice is doable.