The Department of Agriculture (DA), together with the Capiz provincial government, has started selling rice at P20 per kilo in the province as part of efforts to make food more affordable.
The program was launched on April 15 during Capiz’s 125th founding anniversary. Around 1,000 people from priority sectors benefited in the initial rollout, including senior citizens, persons with disabilities, solo parents, low-income workers, and farmers.
Agriculture officials said the rice is sourced from local farmers through the National Food Authority, helping both consumers and producers.
The DA said the program is part of a wider push to address high food prices and ensure stable supply, especially as global market conditions remain uncertain.
To improve distribution, the agency introduced a QR-based system to track beneficiaries and ensure transparency.
As of early 2026, nearly 1,000 sites nationwide are selling subsidized rice, serving over 6 million people. The government aims to expand this to 1,800 sites by the end of the year.
Current market prices of rice remain much higher, ranging from about P43 to over P60 per kilo depending on quality and origin.
