Jasper Emmanuel Arcalas MANILA, Philippines — The country’s rice tariff collections in the first quarter plunged by 63 percent on an annual basis to a little over P4.2 billion, Bureau of Customs (BOC) data showed. Preliminary BOC figures indicated that the agency collected P4.25 billion in tariffs from some 1.02 million metric tons (MT) of […]
As quickly as the applause came, so did the raised eyebrows — and the most stinging of criticisms came from Vice President Sara Duterte herself. The government’s plan to pilot-test the sale of rice at P20 per kilo in the Visayas has become a hot topic of debate, attracting both applause and scrutiny. On paper, […]
MANILA – Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. has instructed the National Food Authority (NFA) to begin repositioning rice stocks to the Visayas in preparation for the launch of the PHP20 per kilo rice program. “It will take several weeks to transfer tens even hundreds of thousands of 50-kilo bags rice from NFA warehouses, particularly […]
Jakarta (ANTARA) – Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman emphasized the importance of strengthening domestic rice stocks before considering exporting even though rice production is currently experiencing a significant increase, to maintain food security. He noted that though rice production increased significantly, bringing the current stocks to 3.18 million tons, the Ministry of Agriculture is still […]
Jean Mangaluz. MANILA, Philippines — National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said a nationwide implementation of P20-per-kilo rice would be sustainable if the country improves its agricultural productivity. The Department of Agriculture is set to launch a pilot program offering P20-per-kilo rice in several regions in the Visayas, with plans for a […]
by Carla P. Gomez The Department of Agriculture’s announcement that government will sell rice at P20 a kilo in the Visayas drew mixed reactions on Thursday, April 24. Under the P20 a kilo program, each family in the Visayas will be allowed a 10-kg. purchase per week or a total of 40 kg. every month, […]
by Stephanie Sevillano The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Wednesday, April 23, announced the pilot launch of P20 per kg. rice sale in the Visayas, in line with the food security, accessibility, and affordability targets of the Marcos administration. The program’s pilot was announced shortly after a closed-door meeting with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. […]
To accelerate the transformation of the Philippine rice industry, the Department of Agriculture-Masagana Rice Industry Development Program (DA-MRIDP) convened key rice industry stakeholders for the 2025–2026 Assessment and Planning Workshop for Rice Clustering and Consolidation on April 21–23, 2025. DA Undersecretary for Rice Industry Development Christopher Morales urged the participants during the opening program to […]
By: By the Inquirer Staff MANILA, Philippines — “P20 per kilo [of] rice. That was the promise—and today, we begin to make it real, starting in the Visayas.” President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. posted this message on his Facebook and Instagram accounts on Wednesday, recalling a promise he made in his 2022 campaign to bring down […]
By Giselle P. Jordan. THE National Food Authority’s (NFA) rice buffer stocks have reached a five-year high of 7.17 million 50-kilogram bags, the agency said on Tuesday, enough for nine days of national consumption. The agency attributed this to higher palay buying prices, which averaged P27 per kilogram (kg) last year and is currently at […]
