The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Tuesday rolled out its P20 per kilo rice program in Makati City, serving about 750 beneficiaries during the launch attended by Mayor Nancy Binay and other local officials.
The DA said the expansion of the subsidized rice program to a wealthy urban area shows that even affluent cities are feeling the impact of rising living costs, driven in part by global energy price increases linked to tensions in the Middle East.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the initiative, introduced under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., aims to help Filipino families cope with tighter household budgets.
The program provides rice at P20 per kilo to vulnerable groups, including senior citizens, persons with disabilities, solo parents, minimum wage earners, transport workers, and low- to lower-middle-income households.
Beyond aiding consumers, the DA said the program also supports farmers by ensuring steady demand for palay through purchases by the National Food Authority, helping maintain stable farmgate prices after a strong harvest.
To improve transparency and targeting, beneficiaries are registered and given QR codes to track purchases at Kadiwa outlets and reduce leakages.
The DA said Makati’s inclusion highlights the need to expand the program across all areas, regardless of income level, as economic pressures affect a broad range of communities.
Since its launch, the program has set up more than 500 selling sites nationwide and has served over 2.6 million households across all 82 provinces and several major cities.
