Marcos Jr. says P20 per kilo rice 'is here to stay'

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. joins farmers, stakeholders, and beneficiaries in a simple salu-salo at the KADIWA Center under the Benteng Bigas Meron (BBM) program at the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) compound in Quezon City on May 15, 2025. The event marks the first day of selling rice at ₱20 per kilo, promotes affordable rice access, and reaffirms the government’s support for local farmers. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File

MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Sunday announced that the P20 per kilogram rice sold at government stores will be “here to stay,” insisting that his campaign promise-turned-program of selling the staple grain at a price cheaper than its total production cost is “achievable” and “sustainable.”

While the government has been selling subsidized rice for P20 per kilogram in select markets, its availability is so far limited to several kilos per buyer and is only sold to indigent families, persons with disabilities, among other sectors.

“Tuloy-tuloy na ito. P20 rice is here to stay,” Marcos Jr. said in a vlog posted on his social media pages.

“It is achievable, it is sustainable kaya abangan ninyo in your nearest public market,” he said.

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Marcos Jr. explained that the National Food Authority (NFA) has been buying fresh unhusked rice (palay) from farmers at P18, while dried unhusked grains are sold between P19 and P23.

The President said traders have been able to lowball farmers because they don't have their own post-harvest processing facilities.

“Kaya nagkakaroon tayo ng daan daan na processing para naman yung mga farmer mayroon na siyang dryer, mamimili na siya kung saan niya dadalhin yung tuyo na palay kaya hindi na siya mapipilitan sa kung anong presyo ang binibigay sa kaniya ng trader,” he added.

(That is why we have put up hundreds of processing facilities so farmers will have access to dryers and will have a choice on where to sell their rice)

Aside from processors and drying facilities, the national government has also been investing in mobile soil laboratories to improve farming conditions and attract young Filipinos into the agricultural sector, Marcos Jr. said.

“Asahang supply at masustansyang pagkain, iyan ang magiging ani ng isang matibay na sistemang agrikultura kaya natin ito pang bubuhasan ng pansin,” he said.

(We will be able to harvest a stable supply and nutritious food if we have a strong agricultural system, and that is why we are focusing on that)

He said the government will work to address problems on farms and at trading posts to ensure better access to food.

In the first half of his six-year presidency, Marcos Jr. was criticized for failing to deliver his campaign promise of bringing down rice prices to P20 per kilo.

In May this year, the President said that the Philippines has been negotiating with other countries to ensure that the government could sustain the cheap rice program, and that his administration eventually “found a way” to turn his vision into a long-term program.

Meantime, the Chief Executive also congratulated winners of the 2025 midterm elections in his vlog, reminding officials that the season of politicking has ended.

“Marami tayong trabahong pagtutulungan sa local at national government at malaking bahagi ang LGU (local government unit) sa paghahatid namin ng serbisyo sa taong bayan.” 

(We have a lot to work together on and local government units play an important part in delivering services to our people)

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