Ensuring Continuity of P20 Per Kilo Rice Program
MANILA, Philippines — Several key bills filed in the House of Representatives aim to secure the continuity of the P20 per kilogram rice program, Leyte 1st District Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez announced on Thursday. This initiative responds to the pressing need for affordable staple food in Filipino households.
Rep. Romualdez highlighted that House Bills No. 1 and 14, known as the Rice Industry and Consumer Empowerment (RICE) Act and the bill expanding Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) services respectively, will bolster the administration’s food security efforts. These bills are designed to support the government’s goal of maintaining affordable rice prices for all Filipinos.
Backing the Benteng Bigas Meron Na Program
Romualdez explained that these legislative measures will reinforce the Benteng Bigas Meron Na (BBM Na) program, which fulfills President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s campaign promise to reduce rice prices to P20 per kilogram. “Rice is the staple food for every household. The P20 per kilogram rice is not just a price — it is a line of hope for Filipino families. The President is showing true leadership by making this vision a reality. In Congress, we will do our part to see it through,” Romualdez stated.
He emphasized that the success of this program relies heavily on empowering farmers. “They are the backbone of our food supply and deserve our full support.”
Strengthening the National Food Authority
Before the 19th Congress concluded, Romualdez expressed support for reforms in the National Food Authority (NFA). These reforms aim to enable the government to purchase palay (unmilled rice) at fair prices, while selling rice at lower costs to consumers.
On Monday, Romualdez formalized this objective through House Bill No. 1, which seeks to restore the NFA’s essential functions, including its role in stabilizing rice prices. The bill proposes amendments to the Agricultural Tariffication Act (Republic Act No. 8178), aiming to strengthen the NFA’s regulatory powers to support the rice industry and protect consumers by ensuring an adequate rice supply at stable prices.
Expanding Crop Insurance Coverage
Meanwhile, House Bill No. 14 proposes to expand crop insurance coverage under the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation. This expansion would allow greater private sector participation in agricultural insurance, extending protections beyond traditional crops like rice and corn to include high-value commodities, livestock, aquaculture, farm machinery, and post-harvest infrastructure.
Romualdez noted that many small farmers skip insurance due to various challenges. He cited data showing that 2.4 million Filipino rice farmers remain vulnerable to climate shocks without adequate insurance. This bill aims to bridge that gap and provide meaningful protection to farmers from calamities and climate-related risks.
Impact and Future Support
The administration, through the Department of Agriculture, recently launched the P20 per kilogram rice program in 94 locations nationwide. The BBM Na initiative allows vulnerable sectors and minimum wage earners to purchase good-quality rice stocks from the NFA at affordable prices.
As of June 23, about 542.18 metric tons of rice worth P10.83 million have been sold, benefiting over 63,000 households through Kadiwa ng Pangulo and other accredited outlets.
Romualdez pledged to support budgets that will enable the Department of Agriculture and the NFA to sustain this program. “In the new Philippines, nobody will be left behind. We will work together — the government, Congress, and every Filipino — to ensure food on every table. Because ultimately, this is the true measure of caring for the welfare of others,” he concluded.
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