The Department of Agriculture has completed the nationwide rollout of the P20-per-kilo rice initiative, placing the subsidized staple within reach of vulnerable sectors in all 82 provinces.
The DA marked the completion during the final launch in Maguindanao del Norte, covering the towns of Barira, Buldon, Matanog, Sultan Kudarat and Sultan Mastura.
Assistant Secretary Genevieve Guevarra said the expansion aims to uplift families across the country while strengthening local production. She said the program’s rollout in Maguindanao del Norte also reflects deeper cooperation between the national government and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
The grain is sourced from National Food Authority stocks procured directly from local farmers and subsidized through the Food Terminal Inc. It is made available to priority sectors including 4Ps beneficiaries, single parents, senior citizens, indigenous people, persons with disabilities, minimum wage earners, farmers, fisherfolk and the public transport sector.
The DA said it has so far established 429 sites for the program. It expects the initiative to reach 15 million households by 2026. The department said the next phase will focus on sustaining supply, strengthening farm production and ensuring that affordable rice continues arriving on the tables of families regardless of location.
