Update on NFA Rice that Department of Agriculture Sells for P20 per Kilo
Department of Agriculture temporarily stops the selling of the P20 per kilo NFA rice to give way for the May 2025 Elections.
DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. previously announced that NFA rice will be sold at P20 per kilo in Visayas. It was met by different reactions with some Filipinos rejoicing the alleged start of the fulfillment of President Bongbong Marcos’ campaign promise while the others criticized it.
Pres. Marcos promised to find ways to make cheaper rice available for the Filipino people. Rice is a staple food in the country and having it with a low cost can benefit countless people. However, as for Vice Pres. Sara Duterte, the P20 per kilo rice could be another “budol” from the government.
Vice Pres. Sara Duterte expressed her doubts on the intention behind the rice sale. According to her, it came amid a nationwide need for affordable rice. She claimed that it may be something to do with the votes in the region.
Duterte also believes that the fulfillment of the campaign promise is allegedly late. In November 2024, amid an ongoing feud between her and Pres. Bongbong Marcos, she called on the Filipinos to urge the fulfillment of the campaign promise.
Vice Pres. Sara Duterte also stressed that the rice must be fit for human consumption. According to her, the NFA rice sold at P20 per kilo usually has the quality that is for animals, specifically used to feed pigs. The Department of Agriculture family was “deeply hurt” by the Vice President’s statement as per its chief.
DA Sec. Francisco Laurel Jr. stressed that they also cook and eat NFA rice in the department. According to the department, the rice that will be sold at P20 per kilo is originally priced at P33 per kilo and they are allotting P5 billion to subsidize the program.
However, recently, the Commission on Elections or Comelec advised the government to halt the selling of the P20 per kilo rice. According to Comelec chairman George Garcia, postponing the affordable rice sale will avoid accusations that it is a form of politics.
Recently, the Department of Agriculture confirmed that it is halting the selling of P20 per kilo rice. Based on a report on ABS-CBN News, a day after the program was launched, the DA temporarily stops it to give way for the May 2025 Elections. Comelec previously said that rice is not under the exemption of the assistance that the local government units (LGUs) can provide.
According to DA Sec. Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., the selling of the affordable rice will resume immediately after the elections on May 13. Previously, Malacañang claimed that there is no politics behind the P20 per kilo rice sale.