Rice program to reach 15M with P23B

The Department of Agriculture is set to spend P23 billion next year to expand its P20-per-kilo rice program as it targets to reach 15 million households or roughly 60 million Filipinos by the end of 2026.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. said Monday the program will increase access to affordable rice, curb food inflation, and support farmgate prices for palay or paddy rice.

“We started with the most vulnerable—4Ps beneficiaries, persons with disabilities, single parents, and senior citizens,” Tiu Laurel said.

“Then we expanded to TODA members, farmers, fisherfolk, minimum-wage earners, teachers, and non-teaching personnel. Millions have already benefited. By 2026, our target is 15 million households, or roughly 60 million Filipinos.”

Pangasinan will pilot the next phase, marking a shift from limited distribution to full provincial coverage.

“This is a provincial-level launch. By January, all qualified households in Pangasinan should already have access. This is a massive rollout,” Tiu Laurel said.

After Pangasinan, the program will extend to three cities in the Visayas and Mindanao—including Davao City—and six additional provinces between January and February, covering about 780,000 households or 3.2 million Filipinos.

To manage supply, purchase limits remain. Senior citizens may buy up to 30 kilos per month, while other beneficiaries are capped at 10 kilos. Most rice will come from the NFA, requiring additional trucks, drivers, and coordination with local governments.

Beneficiaries will register via QR codes to streamline distribution and auditing. Rice will be available through 740 Kadiwa ng Pangulo stores, public markets, and local government unit-run outlets, with a goal of at least one access point per municipality.

The government plans to expand Kadiwa stores to 3,000 by 2028.