MARCOS CALLS FOR SUSTAINED P20/KILO RICE SUBSIDY

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the government has enough funding to sustain President Marcos’ P20-per-kilo subsidized rice program until the end of his term.

The “Benteng Bigas Meron Na!” program is expected to benefit up to 60 million Filipinos through June 2028, with most of the additional funds still unused.

Tiu Laurel said the program provides relief to vulnerable consumers while allowing the National Food Authority to buy more palay from local farmers.

He warned that forcing the market to sell rice at P20 per kilo could hurt farmers because production, milling, transport, and other costs make the price difficult to sustain.

Tiu Laurel also said Marcos recognizes that achieving a market-wide P20-per-kilo rice price, which he promised during the 2022 campaign, is no longer attainable.

Source: PhilNews24 | September 7, 2026