Agriculture’s flaghip P20 per kilogram rice program has pushed total sales for the Kadiwa ng Pangulo rolling stores past the P4.4 billion mark over a four-year period. According to the agency, targeted food market interventions from July 2022 to July 2026 reached over 12 million consumers through more than 22,000 nationwide marketing events, establishing stable platforms for local producers while easing consumer expense.
A major portion of the earnings came directly from the subsidized rice initiative launched in May 2025. Aimed at vulnerable groups—such as low-wage workers, senior citizens, and registered farmers—the program generated P2.4 billion in sales in just over a year by distributing over 121,000 metric tons of low-cost rice. The network has expanded significantly, now operating 805 active subsidized rice selling sites across 57 provinces alongside hundreds of standard Kadiwa outlets nationwide.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. highlighted that connecting producers directly with consumers cuts out unnecessary middlemen, ensuring higher earnings for farmers and lower grocery bills for families. Beyond affordable staples, the program has accredited nearly 200 suppliers to create a broader nationwide farm-to-market trade network. This intervention offers substantial savings compared to regular market prices in the National Capital Region, where non-subsidized local and imported rice varieties currently average between P45 and P60 per kilogram.
