The Department of Agriculture (DA) announced that its subsidized P20-per-kilo rice program will resume after the May 2025 midterm elections, beginning with select Metro Manila cities on May 13.
Initially intended for rollout in the Visayas during the first week of May, the program was briefly paused following the Commission on Elections’ advisory to avoid any political implications during the election period.
According to DA Assistant Secretary Genevieve Guevarra, the program will kick off at Kadiwa Centers in Caloocan, Las Piñas, Mandaluyong, Navotas, Pasay, and Quezon City. By May 15, it will expand to 23 more locations across Luzon, aligned with the store schedules of Thursdays to Saturdays.
The affordable rice, sourced from local farmers, comes from the National Food Authority’s (NFA) buffer stocks. Though slightly darker in color due to minimal milling, the grains are safe and fit for consumption. “Lahat po ‘yan dumaan sa quality control. Kapag may nakita kaming may defect, hindi po ito ilalabas,” Guevarra said in an ABS-CBN News report.
Each eligible household can purchase up to 30 kilos per month. The DA is also exploring partnerships with retailers to scale the initiative, which aims to reach up to 2 million indigent families in Metro Manila alone.
