RICE SUBSIDY
WITH the launching of P20 per kilo of rice, Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez is eyeing rice subsidy program nationwide in lieu of direct cash transfer
Romualdez has expressed strong support for the national government’s initiative to provide rice at P20 per kilo to more Filipinos in all parts of the country, highlighting the potential of a rice subsidy program as a more effective alternative to direct cash transfers.
“Providing affordable rice directly addresses hunger and ensures that assistance reaches the dining tables of Filipino families. This approach guarantees that government support translates into actual food security for our citizens,” Romualdez said.
The Speaker’s remarks come in light of the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) recent announcement to pilot the P20-per-kilo rice program in the Visayas region. Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. confirmed that the program would allow eligible families to purchase up to 10 kilograms of rice per week at the subsidized rate.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. emphasized the significance of this development, stating, “20 pesos per kilo rice. That was the promise—and today, we begin to make it real, starting in the Visayas.”
Romualdez likewise pointed to Camiguin province’s successful implementation of a similar initiative, where collaboration between local government units (LGUs), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and local retailers enabled residents to access rice at half the usual price.
The Speaker commended Camiguin Governor Xavier Jesus Romualdo and Congressman Jurdin Jesus Romualdo for taking the lead in implementing the program, which has already helped hundreds of families buy affordable rice across multiple municipalities.
“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 noted. “It’s a blueprint worth replicating nationwide.”
Under the proposed program announced by Secretary Tiu Laurel, the DA, in partnership with Food Terminal Inc. (FTI) and participating LGUs, will shoulder the price difference between the market rate and the subsidized P20 per kilo. This collaborative funding mechanism aims to make the program sustainable and scalable nationwide.
Romualdez said the Camiguin model, on the other hand, demonstrated how strategic collaboration among local governments, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and local retailers can make food more affordable for ordinary Filipinos.
“If it works in Camiguin, it can work across the country,” Romualdez said. “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.”
Under the program, identified low-income households are issued ID cards allowing them to buy rice from accredited retailers at a subsidized rate—bringing the cost down by up to 50 percent. 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.
“Instead of giving out cash that may not go directly to food, this system ensures the ayuda reaches the dinner table,” Romualdez said. “Mas mainam kung bigas ang mismong naipapamigay—nakakabusog, nakakatulong, at tiyak ang patutunguhan.”
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.
“Ang panawagan ko sa ating mga LGU: pag-aralan ninyo ang modelong ito. Kami sa Kongreso ay handang tumulong sa pagbuo ng pondo at patakaran para mailunsad ito sa inyong mga komunidad,” he said.
He also emphasized that this initiative supports the food security goals of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who has consistently championed the need for affordable rice and better agricultural support.
“This is not just a subsidy—it’s a signal that we are serious about food on every Filipino’s table,” Romualdez said. “Sa tulong ng mga LGU, DSWD, at ating mga local store owners, kayang-kaya nating gawing realidad ang P20 kada kilong bigas.”
The Speaker said rice subsidy program represents the kind of focused, results-oriented assistance that uplifts lives: “Kapag ang bigas ay mura, ang bayan ay panatag.”
