THE Department of Agriculture (DA) announced that starting May 2, rice will be available at select KADIWA (Katuwang sa Diwa at Gawa para sa Masaganang Ani at Mataas na Kita) centers nationwide at a price of P20 per kilogram.
While the DA did not specify all participating centers, it confirmed the involvement of local government units (LGUs) in the Visayas, as well as San Juan City, San Jose del Monte in Bulacan, Camarines Sur, and Mati in Davao Oriental.
This initiative, targeting indigents, senior citizens, solo parents, and persons with disabilities, will have a monthly cap of 30 kilograms per beneficiary.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. explained that the P20/kilo rice aligns with the “Bente Bigas Mo” pilot program in the Visayas and participating LGUs, where NFA rice currently sells at P33 per kilo due to the national food security emergency. He cited favorable global market conditions and robust NFA buffer stocks as factors enabling the launch.
Recent DA price monitoring (April 21-24, 2025) showed Metro Manila rice prices ranging from P39.99 to P58.17 per kilogram, depending on the variety. The rice for the P20 program will be procured by Food Terminal Inc. from the National Food Authority (NFA), which boasts a record-high buffer stock of 7.56 million bags—enough to meet national demand for ten days.
NFA administrator Larry Lacson stated that the agency is actively purchasing palay (unmilled rice) at P18 to P24 per kilogram to support farmers’ incomes.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) previously exempted the P20/kilo rice project from the election spending ban, paving the way for its launch ahead of the May 12 elections.
The initiative fulfills President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s campaign promise to lower rice prices. The DA recently directed the NFA to begin transferring rice stocks to the Visayas in preparation for the program’s rollout.
