The Department of Agriculture (DA) announced Wednesday that 120,000 minimum wage earners nationwide will be the first to benefit from the subsidized rice program offering P20 per kilo, starting June. This initiative is in partnership with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), which identified the initial pool of eligible workers, mostly employed in private factories and companies.
Under the scheme, each qualified worker may purchase up to 10 kilograms of rice per month at the subsidized rate. DA spokesperson Arnel de Mesa said that logistics and delivery will be handled by Food Terminal Inc., with coordination from DOLE and partner employers to ensure efficient distribution.
The move, widely seen as both a social welfare and political strategy, expands the government’s subsidized rice coverage beyond the vulnerable sectors—such as solo parents, PWDs, senior citizens, and 4Ps beneficiaries—who currently receive up to 30 kg monthly.
The program could shift market dynamics, with the subsidized rice offering steep competition to regular prices, which range from P33 to P65 per kg depending on quality and origin. Its implementation may also boost the administration’s appeal among urban working-class voters amid rising food prices.
De Mesa acknowledged ongoing coordination efforts to avoid overlap in beneficiaries and ensure transparency, noting that the distribution system is still being finalized.
