President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. expressed confidence that his administration can sustain the sale of P20 per kilo of rice until the end of his term, citing increasing domestic production and direct procurement from farmers. In the second part of his recent podcast episode, Marcos detailed factors contributing to this goal, including record-breaking palay harvests. “In […]
By ANNA FELICIA BAJO, GMA Integrated News. President Ferdinand ”Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Wednesday expressed confidence anew that his administration could sustain the implementation of the P20 per kilo of rice. In an episode of the BBM Podcast, Marcos was asked how will the government sustain this program. He then emphasized that rice production has […]
By Regine B. Elcullada The Department of Labor and Employment, in partnership with the National Food Authority, Department of Agriculture, and Food Terminal Incorporated, officially launches the “Benteng Bigas Meron Na!” ₱20 rice program to provide affordable rice to minimum wage earners in Northern Mindanao. (Photo: MJP/PIA10) CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA)—The Department of Labor […]
Story by Paige Javier. MANILA — The House Quinta Committee or ‘Murang Pagkain Super Committee’ revealed its preliminary findings aimed at addressing smuggling and alleged price manipulation of basic goods and essential commodities. Among the panel’s suggestions were to bring back the tariffs on imported rice to 35 percent from 15 percent at present, and […]
By Kaiser Jan Fuentes LAPU-LAPU CITY — As provinces continue adopting the P20-per-kilo rice program, the National Food Authority (NFA) highlighted its strengthened mandate to support local farmers and ensure food security. The National Food Authority – Central Visayas (NFA-7) is now focused on maintaining emergency rice reserves while exclusively sourcing palay from Filipino farmers, […]
By JANDI ESTEBAN, GMA Regional TV News The Department of Labor and Employment-Davao (DOLE-11), in partnership with the Department of Agriculture (DA) XI, launched the P20-per-kilo rice program in Hagonoy, Davao del Sur on Thursday, June 13, 2025. A total of 4,000 kilos of rice were repacked and sold to 400 minimum wage workers employed […]
By Stephanie Sevillano MANILA – Almost a year after its implementation, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. on Thursday backed the “gradual” hike of tariffs on 5 percent broken imported rice starting late September. The tariffs on imported rice were reduced to 15 percent from 35 percent in July 2024 to help tame rice retail […]
By TED CORDERO, GMA Integrated News The government’s P20 per kilogram subsidized rice can now be availed by minimum wage earners as the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Friday launched the nationwide rollout of the initiative for the sector. Late in May, the DA and DOLE announced […]
By TED CORDERO, GMA Integrated News Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. is seeking for the gradual return of rice import tariff rate from the current 15% back to 35% as an abrupt increase could undermine efforts to bring down the staple’s price. In a statement issued Thursday, Tiu Laurel, citing his testimony at the […]
Policy failures and under-investment among factors for exacerbating country’s import reliance to the detriment of the local farming industry, report says. SCMP’s Asia desk The Philippines’ rice industry is in danger of being “drowned out by cheap imports”, according to a new report, with experts also warning that prolonged policy inertia could affect the country’s […]
