The nationwide rollout of ₱20 per kilogram rice may officially begin by January 2026, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. announced during a press conference on April 29, 2025. He stressed that the timeline depends on several factors, noting, “There are so many things to do. First of all, we need the right data. We need to experience, at least for six months, how to run this.”
Starting May 2, 2025, the government will initially offer the affordable rice through select Kadiwa centers, fulfilling a key campaign promise of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. The program will prioritize vulnerable sectors, including indigents, senior citizens, solo parents, and persons with disabilities, allowing them to buy up to 30 kilograms of rice each month. Initial distribution points include San Juan City, San Jose del Monte in Bulacan, Camarines Sur, and Mati City in Davao Oriental.
Secretary Tiu Laurel credited the initiative’s early launch to a combination of strong rice buffer stocks and declining global rice prices. However, some concerns have emerged about the quality of the rice to be sold. Vice President Sara Duterte questioned whether the rice would meet acceptable standards, but National Food Authority (NFA) Administrator Larry Lacson assured the public that only high-quality rice will be available, with rigorous quality checks in place.
The Department of Agriculture plans to continue the program until December 2025, with hopes of extending it through the end of President Marcos’s term in 2028 if conditions allow.
