WRAP: P20/kg rice, a promise kept or a come-on for midterm votes? | ABS-CBN
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WRAP: P20/kg rice, a promise kept or a come-on for midterm votes?
WRAP: P20/kg rice, a promise kept or a come-on for midterm votes?
Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News
Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN NewsMANILA — Three years since the 2022 elections and in time for the midterms, rice will finally be sold — on a limited basis and to qualified beneficiaries — at P20 per kilogram, a major campaign promise of then-candidate Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
MANILA — Three years since the 2022 elections and in time for the midterms, rice will finally be sold — on a limited basis and to qualified beneficiaries — at P20 per kilogram, a major campaign promise of then-candidate Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
The launch of the program coincides with the polls in May, but is also, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., said this week, due to lower global rice prices and the need to free up National Food Authority warehouses for the coming harvest.
The launch of the program coincides with the polls in May, but is also, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., said this week, due to lower global rice prices and the need to free up National Food Authority warehouses for the coming harvest.
He said that with rice selling for around P33 a kilo, the government can better afford to release subsidies to meet the price gap.
He said that with rice selling for around P33 a kilo, the government can better afford to release subsidies to meet the price gap.
The program will initially be launched in areas of the Visayas where local governments have agreed to shoulder half of the P13 price gap.
The program will initially be launched in areas of the Visayas where local governments have agreed to shoulder half of the P13 price gap.
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"We are launching it here because mas marami ang nangangailangan sa regions na 'yun (because these regions need it more)," Laurel also said, adding the "eventual intention" is for it to be rolled out nationwide and until the end of Marcos Jr.'s term of office.
"We are launching it here because mas marami ang nangangailangan sa regions na 'yun (because these regions need it more)," Laurel also said, adding the "eventual intention" is for it to be rolled out nationwide and until the end of Marcos Jr.'s term of office.
HOW IT'S EXPECTED TO WORK
Laurel said the subsidized rice will be sold at Kadiwa stores and in areas designated by the participating local governments.
Laurel said the subsidized rice will be sold at Kadiwa stores and in areas designated by the participating local governments.
Purchase of the P20/kg rice will be limited to 10 kilos a week and will only be for senior citizens, persons with disabilities, solo parents and beneficiaries of the Pantawid ng Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).
Purchase of the P20/kg rice will be limited to 10 kilos a week and will only be for senior citizens, persons with disabilities, solo parents and beneficiaries of the Pantawid ng Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).
He said the government initially intended the program to run until December, but that Marcos Jr. has directed the department to "formulate this to be sustainable, ituloy-tuloy hanggang (and to run until) 2028."
He said the government initially intended the program to run until December, but that Marcos Jr. has directed the department to "formulate this to be sustainable, ituloy-tuloy hanggang (and to run until) 2028."
In a radio interview, NFA Administrator Larry Lacson there are 378,000 metric tons of rice in warehouses across the country, with a potential 1.2 million bags of rice in the Visayas.
In a radio interview, NFA Administrator Larry Lacson there are 378,000 metric tons of rice in warehouses across the country, with a potential 1.2 million bags of rice in the Visayas.
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"Marami rin talaga yung stocks natin. We really have to move out and dispose, that’s also the other factor," Laurel said.
"Marami rin talaga yung stocks natin. We really have to move out and dispose, that’s also the other factor," Laurel said.
(We also have a huge stocks that we really have to move and dispose of, that's also the other factor)
(We also have a huge stocks that we really have to move and dispose of, that's also the other factor)
Residents line up for low-cost rice, sugar and other produce during the launching of Kadiwa ng Pasko with President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. in Barangay Addition Hills, Mandaluyong City on November 16, 2022 Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News
Residents line up for low-cost rice, sugar and other produce during the launching of Kadiwa ng Pasko with President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. in Barangay Addition Hills, Mandaluyong City on November 16, 2022 Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN NewsVP DUTERTE QUESTIONS TIMING, INTENT
Vice President Sara Duterte, now among the administration's vocal critics, raised concerns about the quality of the rice that would be sold — Laurel said it will be the same as that sold at P33 — the limited rollout, and the timing.
Vice President Sara Duterte, now among the administration's vocal critics, raised concerns about the quality of the rice that would be sold — Laurel said it will be the same as that sold at P33 — the limited rollout, and the timing.
“Hindi ‘yan pagiging mapagpuna… it’s a campaign promise, ‘yung 20 pesos na rice, at ngayon lang in-implement sa panahon ng eleksyon,” she said, implying that it is meant to woo voters in the vote-rich region.
“Hindi ‘yan pagiging mapagpuna… it’s a campaign promise, ‘yung 20 pesos na rice, at ngayon lang in-implement sa panahon ng eleksyon,” she said, implying that it is meant to woo voters in the vote-rich region.
(That is not being too critical. The P20 rice was a campaign promise and it is being implemented during election season.)
(That is not being too critical. The P20 rice was a campaign promise and it is being implemented during election season.)
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Administration ally Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong was quick to respond, calling the vice president’s observations ironic since rice prices shot up during her father’s presidency.
Administration ally Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong was quick to respond, calling the vice president’s observations ironic since rice prices shot up during her father’s presidency.
“It was under the Duterte government that we saw imported rice shipments infested with bukbok (rice weevil)," he also said.
“It was under the Duterte government that we saw imported rice shipments infested with bukbok (rice weevil)," he also said.
Beyond partisan politics, though, farmers' groups Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas and Amihan National Federation of Peasant Women have also called the program an “electoral gimmick, aimed at deflecting criticism and pacifying growing unrest and discontent from the public and among Duterte loyalists.”
Beyond partisan politics, though, farmers' groups Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas and Amihan National Federation of Peasant Women have also called the program an “electoral gimmick, aimed at deflecting criticism and pacifying growing unrest and discontent from the public and among Duterte loyalists.”
'AYUDA' POLITICS
But for De La Salle University Political Science professor Anthony Lawrence Borja, subsidized rice will be seen as good, regardless of the intent.
But for De La Salle University Political Science professor Anthony Lawrence Borja, subsidized rice will be seen as good, regardless of the intent.
"I think that it matters for recipients in such a way that it is an occasional benefit for an occasional event," he said when asked to comment on the program and the use of ayuda (financial aid) in an election year.
"I think that it matters for recipients in such a way that it is an occasional benefit for an occasional event," he said when asked to comment on the program and the use of ayuda (financial aid) in an election year.
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"For many Filipinos, being an active part of politics is just an occasional event, hence, they are vulnerable to such occasional acts of patronage."
"For many Filipinos, being an active part of politics is just an occasional event, hence, they are vulnerable to such occasional acts of patronage."
He added that these programs, while providing short-term benefits, may "[strengthen] a shared understanding of political engagement as a matter of being mere beneficiaries of a patron’s goodwill, with votes serving as a currency."
He added that these programs, while providing short-term benefits, may "[strengthen] a shared understanding of political engagement as a matter of being mere beneficiaries of a patron’s goodwill, with votes serving as a currency."
Tacloban City residents line up before 6 a.m. at a lawmaker's district office on March 24, 2025 to seek financial assistance. Jonathan de Santos, ABS-CBN News
Tacloban City residents line up before 6 a.m. at a lawmaker's district office on March 24, 2025 to seek financial assistance. Jonathan de Santos, ABS-CBN NewsThat, he says, makes it more challenging for civil society organizers and activist groups to organize and empower communities for political engagement beyond elections that come every three years.
That, he says, makes it more challenging for civil society organizers and activist groups to organize and empower communities for political engagement beyond elections that come every three years.
Borja added, however, that politics being "transactional" is not necessarily anti-democratic. He said organizations "must change the essence of rewards by providing enticements, not for votes but for responsible and effective participation in the policy process."
Borja added, however, that politics being "transactional" is not necessarily anti-democratic. He said organizations "must change the essence of rewards by providing enticements, not for votes but for responsible and effective participation in the policy process."
While activist groups might not afford to, local governments can do that by providing honoraria to citizens who participate in consultations and other participative fora.
While activist groups might not afford to, local governments can do that by providing honoraria to citizens who participate in consultations and other participative fora.
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Political engagement by citizens should, he said, be considered, in essence, public office as well.
Political engagement by citizens should, he said, be considered, in essence, public office as well.
REPEAL RICE TARIFFICATION LAW, BOOST LOCAL PRODUCTIVITY
The subsidized rice has been made possible by lower rice prices and abundant stocks, which could mean discontinuation of the program if prices shoot up and stocks dwindle.
The subsidized rice has been made possible by lower rice prices and abundant stocks, which could mean discontinuation of the program if prices shoot up and stocks dwindle.
KMP and Amihan said this week that a long-term solution to rice prices would require a repeal of the Rice Tariffication Law that removed import limits on rice, subjecting them instead to tariffs to keep local rice competitive.
KMP and Amihan said this week that a long-term solution to rice prices would require a repeal of the Rice Tariffication Law that removed import limits on rice, subjecting them instead to tariffs to keep local rice competitive.
Citing its own research, KMP said rice prices actually went up and farmers’ incomes went down after rice imports were liberalized.
Citing its own research, KMP said rice prices actually went up and farmers’ incomes went down after rice imports were liberalized.
Protesters picket in front of the Department of Agrarian Reform and Department of Agriculture in Quezon City on October 1, 2020. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News
Protesters picket in front of the Department of Agrarian Reform and Department of Agriculture in Quezon City on October 1, 2020. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News“For rice farmers, the result has been catastrophic. In 2023, the average net income per hectare fell to P27,085—the lowest in nearly two decades,” the groups said.
“For rice farmers, the result has been catastrophic. In 2023, the average net income per hectare fell to P27,085—the lowest in nearly two decades,” the groups said.
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“Government resources must be redirected toward revitalizing local production through genuine land reform, rural development, and food sovereignty,” they also said.
“Government resources must be redirected toward revitalizing local production through genuine land reform, rural development, and food sovereignty,” they also said.
The groups have also been calling for a freeze on land conversions, or the practice of turning farm land into areas for industrial, commercial, or industrial use.
The groups have also been calling for a freeze on land conversions, or the practice of turning farm land into areas for industrial, commercial, or industrial use.
“Until then, every ‘cheap rice’ announcement will remain what it truly is: an insult to the dignity and survival of Filipino farmers and consumers alike.”
“Until then, every ‘cheap rice’ announcement will remain what it truly is: an insult to the dignity and survival of Filipino farmers and consumers alike.”
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Department of Agriculture
National Food Authority
Rice prices
Sara Duterte
Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.
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