P20-Per-Kilo Rice Pilot Launched in Visayas, DA Aims for Nationwide Rollout by 2028

The Department of Agriculture (DA) announced that rice will be sold at just P20 per kilo in the Visayas, starting as a pilot program following President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s directive.

DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. confirmed the initiative after a meeting with President Marcos and the 12 Visayas governors at the Cebu Provincial Capitol. Originally planned to run until December (with a possible extension to February), the program is now being shaped for long-term sustainability, with a goal to continue until 2028.

President Marcos has made lowering rice prices to P20 per kilo a flagship promise, emphasizing the need to fix the entire value chain—from production to distribution—to achieve this target.

The DA is preparing to expand the program beyond Visayas, aiming for a nationwide implementation in the coming years.