Siquijor, known for its mystical allure, is taking on a new role as the national pilot test site for the government’s P20 per kilo rice program.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. on Tuesday led the launch of the initiative in the island province, calling it a “strategic model” for future deployments in other remote areas of the country.

“The launch of the P20 program in this magical island of Siquijor serves as a strategic model for the initial rollout of the program across other island provinces,” Laurel said.

The program, designed to provide affordable rice to Filipino households, begins in Siquijor with around 425 families — roughly 1,700 individuals — gaining access to rice priced at P20 per kilo.

The Department of Agriculture is using this test phase to assess the logistical and distribution challenges in geographically isolated areas. Laurel said the insights gathered in Siquijor will guide a broader national implementation plan.

Joseph Lo, president of Food Terminal Inc. (FTI), emphasized the importance of the Siquijor trial, describing it as a proving ground for streamlining supply chains and ensuring the timely delivery of the subsidized rice.

“We’re not just delivering rice, we’re building the framework to deliver it better,” Lo said.

The Siquijor launch followed an earlier rollout in Bacolod City, part of the recently revived Negros Island Region, which has been marked as a priority area for the program through the end of 2025.

With rice prices continuing to strain household budgets nationwide, the P20 rice initiative is being touted as not only an economic relief measure but as a symbol of the government’s commitment to improving food access, starting with the most underserved provinces.