P20-per-kilo rice program in Cebu resumes

Local

THOUSANDS of sacks of rice have started arriving in Cebu as the national government reactivated its flagship P20-per-kilo rice program, which was temporarily halted days before the May 12 elections.

The National Food Authority-Central Visayas (NFA-7) confirmed that 35,000 sacks of well-milled rice, each weighing 50 kilos, were delivered as part of the initial allocation for Cebu Province.

“This is just an initial stock, as we have yet to receive the orders from the different local government units in the province,” said Provincial Agriculture Office head Roldan Saragena.

The program’s revival follows the lifting of the public spending ban by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

The Department of Agriculture (DA) had earlier suspended the initiative in adherence to election-related restrictions.

According to NFA-7 information officer Olma Nedia, 30 municipalities across Cebu have already collected a combined total of 5,000 bags.

Additional pickups are expected in the coming days, based on the allocations provided by the Capitol.

“Malipayon ta nga ni-resume na ang pagkuha sa atong LGUs sa ilang allocation para pud ma apod-apod na ni nila ang barato nga bugas,” Nedia said.

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. launched the P20 Rice Program to ensure food security and provide affordable rice to poor Filipino families.

The DA and Food Terminal Inc. partnered with LGUs to implement the initiative through Kadiwa outlets and local markets.

In areas without Kadiwa stores, residents can access the rice through Sugbo Merkadong Barato outlets. Under the guidelines, indigent beneficiaries may purchase up to 10 kilos of rice weekly, or a maximum of 40 kilos monthly.

Cebu Province has prepaid for around 11,000 bags of rice, and its allocation per LGU follows a Capitol-provided list to ensure fair distribution.

The NFA said Cebu expects additional shipments from surplus regions, including Mindoro and Iloilo, to meet the target of 50,000 sacks and sustain the program’s run until December.

Other provinces joining the effort include Bohol, Siquijor, and Southern Leyte. Siquijor has ordered 40,000 bags, while Southern Leyte and Bohol have ordered 30,000 and 3,000 bags, respectively.

Marcos allocated P4.5 billion from his contingency fund to support the rice program, with the FTI and participating LGUs splitting the P13-per-kilo subsidy to bring the retail price down to P20.(MyTVCebu)