BACOLOD CITY – The P20 per kilo rice program was officially launched here on Thursday, June 5. Hundreds of residents lined up as early as 6 a.m. to purchase the staple.
P20 per kilo rice formally launched in Bacolod
Published Jun 5, 2025 03:04 pm
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. and Mayor Albee Benitez led the launching at the Burgos Public Market with DA-Negros Island Region (NIR) Regional Director Jose Albert Barrogo and DA Assistant Secretary Daniel Atayde.
AGRICULTURE Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. and Mayor Albee Benitez launch the P20 per kilo rice program at the Burgos Public Market in Bacolod City on Thursday, June 5. (Glazyl Masculino)
Louisa Belluga, 62, of Barangay 20, said the affordable rice program is a big help for her family of four.
Belluga said that they would usually consume 1.5 kilos per day, but with the program, they would be able to save as they can buy rice at a lower price.
She thanked President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and the city government for initiating the program.
Belluga was one of two persons who tasted cooked rice from the National Food Authority (NFA) during the launching.
“Namit ang bugas kag wala baho, mayo klase kag humok (It’s delicious. It has no smell, and it’s a good quality of rice)," she said.
Belluga bought 10 kilos of rice and vowed to buy again.
Sixty-seven-year-old Evelyn Antrone of Barangay Vista Alegre is hoping that the program will be extended.
Antrone said the program is a big help for their eight-member household and did not expect that the rice is good quality and affordable.
Tricycle driver Francis Tolentino, 59, of Barangay 26, said that the program is beneficial for his family as he can use the money they save for school expenses.
Tolentino said they consume 21 kilos of rice per week in their six member-household and the program can help him sustain their consumption.
He said that he will eat NFA rice as long as it is of good quality and has no smell.
Laurel assured residents that NFA has good quality rice for the program.
“Hindi ito panghayop. Pantao ito. Delikadad at hindi tayo mapapahiya (This is human-grade rice, not for animals. This is of good quality. It will not embarrass us),” Laurel said.
Laurel said that this is the simplest and most direct way to bring P20 rice to the public.
“Many people have already tasted it and said it is clean, delicious, no bugs, and has no smell, something we can be proud of. The quality will speak for itself,” he added.
Laurel said that the rice subsidy program with the city government will continue until December. He added that the local government has the discretion on how to distribute.
He noted that this is not just limited to senior citizens or Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).
Starting Jan. 1, 2026, the national program offering P20-per-kilo rice for 15 million households will begin, and it will run until June 30, 2028, according to Laurel.
The general plan is for each qualified household to receive about 10 kilos per week.
Benitez said that the city government prioritized sectoral groups in the initial distribution, but the city will eventually procure more depending on the availability of supply from the NFA to enable more people to avail.
The city government has allocated P7.9 million for the purchase of 5,880 bags of NFA rice for the initial distribution on a first come first serve basis for sectoral groups.
The program was also launched in two other major public markets – Central Market and Libertad Public Market.
Brenda Burdeos, project development officer IV of the City Cooperative and Livelihood Development Office (CCLDO), said that after the rollout in the markets, the city will also start distribution in 61 barangays.
Burdeos said that 70 sacks of rice will be delivered in each named barangays and 50 sacks of rice for each numbered barangays until supply lasts.
She said that 1,000 purchase slips have been issued during the launching at the Burgos Public Market.
She added that rice for the program was sourced from rice-producing areas in Negros Occidental such as Bago City, San Enrique town, and Valladolid town, and was processed in NFA’s accredited rice mill in the province.