DA: P20/kilo of rice for public impossible without subsidy

Metro Manila, Philippines - The P20 per kilo of rice for the general public cannot be rolled out without subsidies for farmers, the Department of Agriculture said on Monday, Sept. 15.

During the House appropriations panel hearing, Bacolod Rep. Albee Benitez asked Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. whether the general public could purchase P20 per kilo of rice from markets if the target yield of eight to 10 tons per hectare would be fulfilled.

“I don’t think kaya without subsidy… I don’t believe we can – unless bumaba ang world price ng fertilizer to the pre-Ukraine war levels, tingin ko hindi possible at this time,” Tiu Laurel said.

[Translation: I don’t think we can without subsidy. I don’t believe we can – unless the world price of fertilizer would go down to pre-Ukraine war levels, I think it is not possible at this time.]

To date, the P20 per kilo of rice is offered to vulnerable sectors such as indigents, senior citizens, solo parents, persons with disabilities, and minimum wage earners.

The agriculture chief said based on his monitoring, a kilo of rice costs P33 to P58.

Tiu Laurel said the country’s price of rice is at the same level with Thailand and China.

The P20 per kilo of rice is among the campaign promises of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.