Families with undernourished children in Iloilo province will soon have access to affordable rice through the P20/Kilo Rice Para sa Bayan (RPB20) project — an initiative which is part of the “SiPag at TiyaGa for MoRProGRes sa Bagong Pilipinas” program.

Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. formalized the province’s commitment to the program through Executive Order No. 040, Series of 2025, signed Monday. The order supports President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s nationwide call for food security and affordable rice, particularly for vulnerable populations.

The executive order outlines a convergence program targeting families with malnourished children aged 0-59 months.

Data from the Department of Health’s (DoH) Operation Timbang Plus identified over 11,700 children in this age group as undernourished in Iloilo province in 2024.

“We know who they are, we know where they are, because we have already given them assistance in the past,” Defensor said, referring to families already enrolled in the province’s Adequate Food Production, Rehabilitation of Malnutrition Response nutrition program.

The provincial government has allocated P19 million for the initial subsidy to purchase rice from the National Food Authority. The subsidized rice will be sold through MoRProGRes KADIWA ng Pangulo Centers, Bigasan ng Barangay outlets and other government-run stores across the province.

The RPB20 project aligns with the Bagong Pilipinas campaign and complements the recent Department of Agriculture Circular No. 03, Series of 2025, which declared a food security emergency due to rising rice prices.

While a specific rollout date has not been announced, the provincial government is coordinating with the DA, DoH and Department of Social Welfare and Development to finalize implementation guidelines.

The P20/kilo rice is expected to be available in the coming months, with the subsidy planned to run through December 2025.