Marcos: P20 rice doable, cites more agri gains

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the government’s target of P20-per-kilo rice is possible without farmers incurring losses — one of several agriculture-related highlights in his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA).

“We have proven that we can achieve P20 per kilo of rice without causing farmers to incur losses,” Marcos said in Filipino in his speech at Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City.

Marcos noted that the government has successfully launched the cheaper rice project in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao — specifically in areas such as San Juan, Pangasinan, Cavite, Occidental Mindoro, Cebu, Bacolod, Guimaras, Siquijor, and Davao del Sur.

He said that with an allocated P113 billion, the government will strengthen the program and roll it out nationwide through the establishment of more Kadiwa stores.

He also warned traders who may attempt to manipulate the prices of palay (unmilled rice) and rice.

“We will go after you because what you're doing is economic sabotage,” he said.

Besides rice, Marcos also reported that the government is boosting the production of corn, pineapple, banana, mango, coffee, cacao, calamansi, sugarcane, onion, garlic, and others.

Boosting hog production

To address the rising prices of pork, Marcos said the government is boosting local hog production by distributing piglets and sows and establishing biosecurity facilities.

“We have begun vaccinations against ASF, and we will further expand the vaccination efforts against it,” he added, referring to the African swine fever (ASF) outbreak that has affected the pork industry.

FMR expansions, irrigation, and equipment

Marcos touted infrastructure gains in the agriculture sector, citing thousands of kilometers of farm-to-market roads already built, with more to follow.

“Thousands of hectares of land across the country have already been irrigated — and thousands more will be provided with irrigation. We have also opened and distributed thousands of pieces of machinery and facilities for our farmers and fisherfolk,” he said.

He added that more Rice Processing System facilities will be established, and fiberglass boats will be distributed to fisherfolk.

Strengthening coconut industry

Citing that millions of Filipinos rely on coconut farming as their primary source of income, Marcos announced a nationwide replanting effort. 

He said that starting this year, at least 15 million hybrid and high-quality coconut seedlings have been planted across the country, and the effort will continue until a hundred million coconut trees are planted. He also said he would urge Congress to amend the Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund Act to better serve the needs of farmers.

Call to invest

Marcos appealed to the international business community to invest in the local agriculture sector, stressing that the country is ready.

“Our cavalcade of dependable and hardworking Filipinos, innately skilled, adaptable, and possessed with a heart for service, are here, ready to work and to succeed with you,” he added.