Government Pushes for P20 Per Kilo Rice Program
House Speaker Martin Romualdez expressed strong support for the Department of Agriculture’s rollout of the P20 per kilo rice program, calling it a significant step toward fulfilling President Marcos’ campaign promise. He emphasized that the initiative marks the start of a national transformation rather than a one-time event. “This is not a one-time rollout. This is the beginning of a national transformation. President Marcos is showing us that with political will and smart budgeting, P20/kilo rice is not just possible—it’s happening,” Romualdez said.
The program recently began distributing rice at P20 per kilo in selected areas through the National Food Authority (NFA), sourcing palay from Filipino farmers. This approach aims to benefit both local farmers and low-income consumers by ensuring fair prices and affordable food.
Expanding and Institutionalizing the Rice Initiative
Romualdez, freshly reelected as Leyte’s 1st district congressman in the May 12 elections, pledged that Congress would support and expand this model nationwide. He explained that the government plans to allocate necessary funds in the 2026 General Appropriations Act to scale up the program.
He added, “We will allocate the necessary funds to scale this program nationwide through the 2026 General Appropriations Act. This kind of ayuda uplifts everyone—consumers, farmers, and the economy.”
As the likely returning House Speaker in the 20th Congress, Romualdez stressed the House of Representatives’ commitment to making the P20 per kilo rice program a sustainable, nationwide policy rather than a pilot project. Given rice’s importance as a staple food in the Philippines, this move is critical.
Building a Unified Rice Assistance Fund
Romualdez and leaders of the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) are exploring ways to consolidate current aid programs, including the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s food assistance, and the Department of Agriculture’s Rice Program. The goal is to create a unified Rice Assistance Fund.
This fund would empower the NFA to stabilize rice supply and consistently provide rice at P20 per kilo to qualified beneficiaries. Romualdez noted, “We will also consider tapping AKAP (Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program) and other targeted subsidy programs as complementary channels to reach the near-poor and vulnerable.”
Ensuring Transparency and Efficiency
The House leader assured the public that the program’s rollout would be efficient, transparent, and safeguarded from corruption or misuse. The government plans to use technology such as national ID integration, e-vouchers, and digital monitoring to track distribution.
He concluded, “No Filipino should go hungry when our farmers are ready to feed the nation. P20 per kilo rice is not a fantasy—it’s a question of priority. And it is a top priority under this administration.”
For more news and updates on P20 per kilo rice program, visit Filipinokami.com.