The Department of Agriculture (DA) announced that the second phase of the government’s P20-per-kilo rice program will begin in July 2025, focusing on poverty-stricken areas in Mindanao.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the rollout will prioritize provinces based on poverty incidence. Leading the list is Zamboanga del Norte, which has a 37.7% poverty rate. Other areas in the July rollout include Basilan, Cotabato City, Tawi-Tawi, Maguindanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Davao Oriental, Sorsogon, and Maguindanao del Norte.
The third phase of the program will follow in September, targeting Sultan Kudarat, Lanao del Norte, Catanduanes, Agusan del Sur, Sarangani, and Dinagat Islands.
The DA earlier launched the program in the Visayas, in line with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s goal to make affordable rice available nationwide.
Tiu Laurel assured the public that the subsidized rice maintains high quality standards. He also met with National Food Authority (NFA) officials to reinforce the quality commitment and remove the stigma that NFA rice is subpar.
The DA is ramping up logistics support, including expanding NFA’s trucking fleet, storage, and drying facilities, to boost procurement from local farmers—especially in remote regions.