PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said on Monday that his administration’s P20-per-kilo rice will soon be available nationwide to the public.
In his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA), the chief executive claimed to have fulfilled one of his campaign promises in 2022, which was to lower rice prices to P20 per kilogram.
“Sa mga nagtatanong kung nasaan na ang ‘bente pesos na bigas?’ Ito ang aking tugon: napatunayan na natin na kaya na natin ang bente pesos sa bawat kilo ng bigas, nang hindi malulugi ang ating mga magsasaka,” he said at the House of Representatives.
The Marcos administration’s 20-per-kilo program had its pilot implementation in May in select areas in Visayas. The rice is being sourced from the National Food Authority (NFA), which purchases palay, or unmilled rice, directly from local farmers.
Beneficiaries of the program include indigents, senior citizens, solo parents, persons with disabilities (PWDs), and minimum wage workers.
Marcos said the initiative was also rolled out in several parts of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, including San Juan, Pangasinan, Cavite, Occidental Mindoro, Cebu, Bacolod, Guimaras, Siquijor, and Davao Del Sur.
He now seeks to make P20 per kilo of rice available in hundreds of KADIWA stores and centers across different local government units (LGUs).
“At dahil sa ilalaan nating 113 bilyong piso upang palakasin ang mga programa ng DA, ilulunsad na natin ito sa buong bansa,” the president said.
Marcos also warned traders who would try to manipulate rice prices or deceive Filipino farmers.
“Hahabulin namin kayo, dahil ang trato namin sa inyong ginagawa ay tinuturing naming economic sabotage,” he said.
Aid to local farmers, fisherfolk
To continue supporting farmers and fisherfolk, Marcos said the government will put up more Rice Processing System facilities and distribute fiberglass-made boats to fishermen.
“Lahat ng ito ay sumusuporta sa kanila mula paghahanda, sa pagpunla, pag-ani, pagbiyahe, hanggang sa pagbenta,” he said.
The government has also increased the production of agricultural products, such as rice, corn, pineapple, banana, mango, coffee, cacao, calamansi, sugarcane, onion, and garlic, according to Marcos.
He also stressed that more than 8.5 million farmers and fishermen have received aid since the current administration began.
“Libo-libong kilometro ng farm-to-market road na ang ginawa na, at libo-libong kilometro pa ang pinapasinayaan. Libo-libong ektarya ng lupa ay nalagyan na ng patubig sa buong bansa. At libo-libong ektarya pa ang patutubigan,” Marcos said.
“Libo-libo ring makinarya at pasilidad ang ating binuksan at pinamigay para sa mga magsasaka at mangingisda,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Marcos administration vowed to strengthen local pork production to address the rising pork prices. Marcos said the government plans to distribute piglets and sows, as well as build biosecured facilities.
“Upang lubos na pababain ang presyo ng karne, nagsimula nang magbakuna laban sa ASF [African Swine Fever], at palalawigin pa natin ito ng pagbabakuna sa lahat,” he stressed.
Aid to coconut farmers
To address the needs of local coconut farmers, Marcos also asked Congress to amend the Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund Act.
“Bahagi lamang ito ng ginagawa nating malawakang pagpapalakas ng iba’t iba pang mga industriya, kasama dito ang industriya ng asin, pagpoproseso, pag-export ng niyog,” he said.
Signed into law in February 2021, the Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund Act aims to implement reforms in the coconut industry and provide efficient utilization of the trust fund pursuant to the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan, which benefits millions of coconut farmers and their families, and the coconut industry in general.
Starting this year, Marcos said the government will plant over 15 million hybrid and high-quality coconut seeds in different parts of the country.
He added that his administration aims to plant up to 100 million coconut trees in the Philippines.
