The Department of Agriculture (DA) just shared some exciting news: starting May 13, right after the midterm elections, P20 per kilo rice will be sold again in Metro Manila and nearby places!
This is all part of a special project called Kadiwa ng Pangulo, which means “President’s Partner Stores.” These are places where families can buy food—especially rice—for cheaper prices.
🌾 Why Did It Stop Before?
The rice program actually started earlier this month during Labor Day. But it had to pause because of a rule from the Commission on Elections (COMELEC). This rule says the government can’t spend money on new public projects 10 days before an election, so it was paused from May 2 until the voting is done.
But don’t worry! It’s coming back right away on May 13!
🤝 A Promise from the President
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. wants every Filipino to have affordable rice, and he made a promise to keep this program going until the end of his term in 2028!
The Agriculture Secretary, Mr. Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., said some people didn’t believe the program would last. But he made it clear:
“We’re doing this to help families, and we’re sticking to it!”
📦 Why This Program Matters
This program helps in two big ways:
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Families get cheaper rice, which means they can save money.
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The National Food Authority (NFA) can free up space in its warehouses and buy more palay (unhusked rice) from local farmers at better prices. This helps the farmers too!
📍 Where Can You Buy P20 Rice?
At first, the rice was only sold in Cebu City as a test. But now that the DA has checked their budget and rice supply, the program will grow to more places like:
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Metro Manila
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Bulacan
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Cavite
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Laguna
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Rizal
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Mindoro
These areas will have Kadiwa stores ready to sell rice for only 20 pesos per kilo by May 15.
👨👩👧👦 Who Can Buy It?
Not everyone can buy this special rice—only the people who need it most, like:
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Solo parents (moms or dads raising kids alone)
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Senior citizens (older people)
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People with disabilities
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Families in the government’s 4Ps program (a support program for very poor households)
Each family can buy up to 30 kilos of rice every month, so there’s enough for everyone.
🎯 How Many Will This Help?
The program is expected to help around 2 million families—that’s about 10 million people—until the end of December!
So if your family lives in one of the areas listed and qualifies, you can enjoy good quality rice at a low price, thanks to this big teamwork between the government, the DA, and your local city or town leaders.
✅ In Short:
🥄 Rice for only P20/kilo
📆 Back on May 13, right after elections
🏬 Available in Kadiwa stores in Metro Manila & nearby provinces
🧓 Only for families who need it most
🎯 Goal: Help both Filipino families and rice farmers
