President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. (left), Albay 2nd district Rep. Joey Salceda (MANILA BULLETIN, Facebook)

For economist-solon Albay 2nd district Rep. Joey Salceda, President Marcos' roll-out of P20-per-kilo rice was a bullseye in more ways than one.

First, President Marcos was able to fulfill a campaign promise he made back in 2022.

The Chief Executive had directed the Department of Agriculture (DA) to begin selling rice at P20 per kilo across Western, Central, and Eastern Visayas next week.

"The Murang Pagkain supercommittee’s stance on the selling of below-market rice prices stands: that it should be implemented in area that are vulnerable to price manipulation," said Salceda, chairman of the committee.

"The Visayas is the most logistically isolated area in the country, so the move is definitely strategic. I think this should be done when not in harvest season," he noted.

Salceda, also chairman of the Ways and Means committee, said the "timing" of the move was also on the money.

"I’m a bit concerned about the impact on farm gate prices, so NFA (National Food Authority) should be prepared to act on its price stabilization mandate. Right now, that won’t be much of a concern yet, so the timing is just about right," he explained.

DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. announced the pilot for the P20-per-kilo rice after a closed-door meeting with Marcos and 12 Visayas governors in Cebu Wednesday. He noted that the President wants the program sustained nationwide until 2028. 

Rice is the Filipino staple food.