Sugbo News - RICE AT P20/KILO AVAILABLE IN VISAYAS REGION STARTING NEXT WEEK

The administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has tapped the provincial governments in the Visayas for the pilot roll out of affordable rice sold at P20 per kilo in the regions.

RICE AT P20/KILO AVAILABLE IN VISAYAS REGION STARTING NEXT WEEK

April 23, 2025

The administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has tapped the provincial governments in the Visayas for the pilot roll out of affordable rice sold at P20 per kilo in the regions.

This was the gist of the meeting attended by the President and at least 12 Governors of the Visayas here at the Cebu Provincial Capitol on April 23, said Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. during a media briefing.

The President was also accompanied by Special Assistant to the President, Sec. Antonio Lagdameo Jr.

Gov. Gwen Garcia welcomed the President here, including Guimaras Gov. JC Rahman Nava; Aklan Gov. Jose Enrique Miraflores; Northern Samar Gov. Edwin Ongchuan; Leyte Gov. Jericho Petilla; Negros Oriental Gov. Manuel Sagarbarria; Siquijor Gov. Jake Vincent Villa; Eastern Samar Gov. Ben Evardone; Southern Leyte Gov. Damian Mercado; Biliran Gov. Gerard Roger Espina; Iloilo Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr.; and Samar Province representative, Board Member Fe Tan Arcales.

Secretary Laurel said the National Government through the Department of Agriculture (DA) is working closely with local government units to implement the program.

“The DA team has been working day and night on how to bring this to reality. Maraming steps kailangan para mangyari to,” he said, adding that the program shall be sustained until 2028.

Meanwhile, in separate media conference, Leyte Governor Petilla confirmed that the program will eventually be implemented nationwide.

“It’s a commendable program because were trying to target P20,” Gov. Petilla said, adding that the national government intends to shoulder the full cost of the subsidy starting next year.

“If we do this, I think we can also lower our inflation rate as well because I think rice is a key factor of our inflation. I think it’s a good advocacy and a good program of the President,” Siquijor Gov. Villa said.

Under Gov. Gwen, Cebu Province implemented the “Sugbo Merkadong Barato” (SMB) program, the first LGU to have supported President Marcos's campaign promise of bringing down the price of rice to P20 per kilo.

Launched in November 2023, the SMB program was funded by the Capitol which delegated to the individual municipalities and component cities the task of selling the rice at only P20 per kilo to their indigent constituents. | BJR

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