The P20 rice program rolled out in Guimaras this week aims to make affordable rice accessible to more Filipino households. Through this effort, residents on the island province can now buy well-milled rice at just P20 per kilo — a move seen as a major step to help ease the cost of living.
Launched by the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the National Food Authority (NFA), the program’s pilot run began in Barangay San Miguel, Jordan, Guimaras. It is part of the government's broader goal of bringing down rice prices nationwide and supporting local communities grappling with food inflation.
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Helping households cope with high prices
The initiative directly responds to rising living costs, with rice being a staple on every Filipino table. DA officials emphasized that the P20 rice program will especially benefit low-income families, giving them a reliable source of cheaper, quality rice.
“This is the first step in realizing the President’s promise of P20 per kilo of rice,” DA Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa explained during the launch.
The pilot program in Guimaras will help the DA study logistics, supply capacity, and purchasing behavior, so similar rollouts can be fine-tuned for other provinces.
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A boost for local supply chains
To make the program work, the NFA procures palay directly from local farmers, mills it, and sells the rice at P20 per kilo in selected markets. This system not only offers affordable rice to consumers but also ensures better farmgate prices for local rice producers.
“We buy palay from farmers at a higher price to ensure they still earn, and then we sell the rice at P20 per kilo,” de Mesa noted.
During the launch, DA and NFA officials assured that the rice being sold under this program is clean and well-milled, meeting quality standards despite its low cost. Local leaders also welcomed the program as timely support for their communities.
“Guimaras is proud to be chosen for this pilot program that will help our people cope with high food prices,” Governor JC Rahman Nava highlighted.
By starting in Guimaras, the government aims to see how a direct-from-farm-to-market approach can be scaled nationwide — balancing affordable food for consumers with fair income for farmers. If successful, the program could mark a real step toward making the president’s vision of P20 rice a daily reality for millions of Filipinos.
