The Department of Agriculture (DA) is studying how it could expand the government’s affordable rice program to beyond vulnerable sectors, with the goal of benefiting up to 60 million Filipinos, according to Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa.
De Mesa confirmed that President Marcos has already ordered the expansion of the initiative so more Filipinos can purchase rice at the subsidized price of P20 per kilo.
“Our President has already ordered to expand the implementation of rice for all. The first to benefit outside of the vulnerable sectors will be the poor people. That is why we are looking at about 15 million households, corresponding to about 60 million Filipinos,” he said in an interview Tuesday.
At present, the government’s subsidized rice program is only benefiting indigent households, who are considered the country’s “most vulnerable.”
However, de Mesa said the envisioned expansion of the program will bring subsidized rice to lower and lower-middle income households as well.
While the initiative is still under study, the DA is weighing critical factors including supply, logistics, and regional poverty distribution.
“That is why the Secretary mentioned the next phase is Mindanao, where the majority of the poor are registered, particularly in Zamboanga, the Bangsamoro areas, and other parts of Mindanao,” the DA official added.
At the same time, the DA is taking steps to stabilize rice prices at the farm gate level to ensure that farmers also benefit.
De Mesa confirmed that the government is looking into implementing a suggested floor price for palay (unmilled rice), similar to a suggested retail price but at the farm level.
This follows recent findings that in at least 32 provinces, palay buying prices by private traders were significantly low.
“If the NFA intervenes and buys at a good price, the trader will follow suit. That’s the strategy Secretary Kiko (Tiu Laurel) mentioned earlier,” de Mesa said.
Currently, the National Food Authority (NFA) buys dry and clean palay at P23 to P24 per kilo, and fresh palay at P17 to P19.
However, the DA is exploring whether a suggested floor price could be formally enforced under existing laws, including the Price Act and the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Law.
Ensuring profitable returns for farmers is key to sustaining local production, de Mesa stressed.
“If farmers are confident their harvests will be bought at reasonable prices, they will be more inclined to plant again,” he said.