The Department of Agriculture (DA) announced that only Tawi-Tawi province has yet to be covered by the government’s P20-per-kilo rice program.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the program, launched in May, now operates in 427 sites across the country, up from the initial 136 in 13 provinces. These outlets have served about 1.2 million Filipinos, with 723,000 directly benefiting from the discounted rice, purchasing a total of 8.5 million kilograms between May and October.
New outlets are set to open this month in Aklan, Capiz, Catanduanes, Davao Oriental, Eastern Samar, Leyte, Sarangani, and Sulu, while Tawi-Tawi will follow in December.
The program prioritizes vulnerable groups such as senior citizens, persons with disabilities, solo parents, low-income earners, farmers, fisherfolk, transport workers, and beneficiaries of the DSWD’s Walang Gutom initiative.
Tiu Laurel said this year’s rollout serves as a test phase to address logistical challenges before expanding the program to reach 15 million households (about 60 million Filipinos) by 2026.
Meanwhile, a working group is reviewing rice tariff rates, expected to release recommendations by December 15, 2025, with possible changes by early next year. The government currently maintains a 15 percent tariff, down from the previous 35 percent for ASEAN imports and 50 percent for non-ASEAN sources.
As of November 5, DA monitoring showed local well-milled rice selling for ₱35–₱50/kg, while regular milled rice ranged from ₱30–₱42/kg. Imported rice varieties were priced between ₱31 and ₱65/kg, depending on type and quality.
