DA awaiting Comelec guidance for P20/kilo rice; eyes nationwide rollout in 2026

The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Tuesday said it is still awaiting further guidance from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to be able to pilot launch the P20-per-kilo rice later this week.

According to Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu-Laurel Jr., while the P20-per-kilo project of the DA has been exempted by the Comelec from the election spending ban, local government units (LGUs) which will also partly subsidize the project will also have to secure exemptions.

“We have to wait for Comelec approval or clarification… Kung hindi talaga pwede ito, susunod tayo sa Comelec at uumpisahan ang bentahan matapos ang halalan, but of course, we’re requesting the Comelec to grant this para ma-start na 'ho at makinabang ang consumers,” Tiu-Laurel said.

(We have to wait for Comelec approval or clarification. If this will not be allowed, we will start selling after the election, but of course, we’re requesting the Comelec to grant this so we can already start it to benefit the consumers.)

Under the planned pilot, the P20-per-kilo rice will be initially available in Regions VI (Western Visayas), VII (Central Visayas), VIII (Eastern Visayas), and Negros Island due to the high poverty incidence and the sufficient stocks in the areas.

The DA estimates that there would be 800,000 families or 4 million individuals in the pilot areas who would benefit from the cheaper rice.

The agency over the weekend said it has already ordered the NFA to start transferring rice stocks to the Visayas region in preparation for the launch of the P20-per-kilo rice program, which was a campaign promise of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. during the 2022 elections.

The government is set to procure rice at P33 per kilo from the National Food Authority (NFA), which will then be sold at P20 per kilo, with the P13 per kilo subsidy to be shared by the national government and the local government units at P6.50 each.

Aside from partnerships with local government units, the DA earlier said the P20-per-kilo rice will be made available in KADIWA or Kautwang sa Diwa at Gawa para sa Masaganing Ani at Mataas na Kita Centers starting May 2.

Nationwide rollout

Moving forward, Tiu Laurel said the DA is targeting to widen the coverage of the program nationwide by January 2026.

“Ang target namin (Our target) is 2026, maybe January. There are so many things to do. First of all, we need the right data. We need to experience, at least for six months, kung paano patakbuhin ito (how to run this). Maraming (There are many) factors eh,” he said.

“Of course there is clamor. To try to implement it (nationwide) by January is actually not too easy to do, but we will endeavor our best to achieve that target,” he added.

Tiu Laurel said he has already ordered the creation of a software system for the project and hinted at the possibility of issuing a card for every individual that purchases the P20-per-kilo rice.

Latest data available from the DA’s price monitoring show that prices of rice in Metro Manila markets ranged from P39.99 to P58.17 per kilo from April 21 to April 24, 2025, depending on the variety.

For the national government, Tiu Laurel said this will be funded by a P5-billion contingency fund from the Office of the President, with P4.5 billion for the acquisition of rice, and P500 million for logistics. —VAL, GMA Integrated News