Cebu Province had its P20 per kilo rice experience for a day as the Department of Agriculture (DA) suspended its implementation by 13 May 2025.
This was confirmed on Saturday, 3 May to the Daily TRIBUNE by DA-7 officials, who requested anonymity.
“We were advised by the Central Office to suspend the selling of the P20 per kilo rice,” the DA-7 officials said.
“We were ordered to follow the advice of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to resell by 13 May,” the very reliable sources added.
They reiterated that it would be best for the local governments in Cebu, especially the province, to seek Comelec exemption.
This as Danao City Mayor Thomas Mark Durano that the city will not participate in selling rice at P20 per kilogram unless the program’s guidelines are clearly established before implementation.
He insisted that local officials were neither consulted nor made aware of the program.
He noted that even the City Agriculturist has no information on the program.
Durano questioned on who will sell the subsidized rice. On whether the city must issue receipts to recipients, and other procedural details.
“And if we require payment, who will receive the money? Us? Will we have to pay them there? And then issue receipt?”
He suggested that the rice be channeled directly to retailers.
“Why not just distribute it directly to the retailers? Because it’s a program, it’s a national mandate that we have to do that,” Durano stressed.
He argued that this would ensure not just select individuals can benefit from the rice program.
Based on the guidelines, the rice program prioritizes vulnerable sectors, such as senior citizens, persons with disabilities and the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.
The mayor recommended to the national government to further study the program’s implementation and questioned its timing, given the upcoming elections.