House Speaker Martin Romualdez on Sunday said the P20-per-kilo rice is no longer just a campaign promise but a policy already in motion under the Marcos administration.
Romualdez welcomed the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) rollout of the program, describing it as “a major first step toward food security and economic justice for Filipino families.”
Under his leadership, the House of Representatives is fully supporting President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s flagship initiative by working to institutionalize the P20-per-kilo rice program through the 2026 national budget—aiming to make it a sustainable, nationwide policy rather than just a pilot project.
“This is not a one-time rollout. This is the beginning of a national transformation. President Marcos is showing us that with political will and smart budgeting, P20/kilo rice is not just possible— it’s happening,” Romualdez said.
The DA has begun distributing P20/kilo rice in select areas through the National Food Authority using locally sourced palay from Filipino farmers.
Romualdez emphasized they would support and expand this model, buying from farmers at fair prices and selling to people with low incomes at subsidized rates.
“We will allocate the necessary funds to scale this program nationwide through the 2026 General Appropriations Act,” he said. “This kind of ayuda uplifts everyone—consumers, farmers, and the economy.”
Congress is exploring ways to consolidate existing programs—such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s food assistance, 4Ps (Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program) and the Department of Agriculture’s Rice Program—into a unified Rice Assistance Fund, Romualdez said.
The fund would empower the NFA to stabilize supply and deliver rice at P20/kilo to qualified beneficiaries on a sustained basis, he noted.
“We will also consider tapping AKAP (Ayuda Para sa Kapos ang Kita Program) and other targeted subsidy programs as complementary channels to reach the near-poor and vulnerable,” Romualdez said.
The seasoned legislator assured the public that Congress, in coordination with Malacañang, will ensure an efficient and transparent rollout of the P20/kilo rice program, utilizing technology like national ID integration, e-vouchers and digital monitoring.
“No Filipino should go hungry when our farmers are ready to feed the nation. P20/kilo rice is not a fantasy — it’s a question of priority. And it is a top priority under this administration,” he said.
Romualdez credited President Marcos with leading the push for bold, people-centered solutions to address inflation and food insecurity.
“President Marcos is turning a vision into action. The House of the People stands solidly behind him as we turn this action into permanent policy,” the Speaker Romualdez said.