THE Bacolod City Government will continue selling rice at P20 per kilo in identified retailing areas in the city this month, Secretary to the Mayor Marty Go said on Friday, August 1, 2025.
Go said Mayor Greg Gasataya already directed them to process the second tranche of the purchase of rice supply that will be sold at P20 per kilo.
He said in June 2025, the City launched the selling of rice at P20 per kilo, and the Food Terminal Inc. (FTI) is now set to release its payment.
He added that in the first tranche, the City purchased 5,880 bags of rice with a total cost of P7.7 million, including the subsidy from the City Government, but this time, the City will purchase 3,930 bags of rice with a total cost of P5.2 million.
Go noted that originally, the City allocated a total of P13 million for the implementation of the program and it is not yet used up so the City can purchase the rice supply this month.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) earlier announced the pilot launch of P20 per kilo of rice in the Visayas as one of the campaign promises of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during the 2022 presidential race.
The FTI, as the implementing arm of the DA for the sale of rice to local government units (LGUs), will procure rice from the NFA at a price of P33 per kilo and sell the same to the LGUs at a subsidized rate of P26.50 per kilo.
Consequently, the LGUs will resell the rice to their respective constituents at a subsidized rate of P20 per kilo. The subsidy of at least P13 per kilo will be equally shouldered by the FTI and the LGU concerned.
Under the program, each family will be allowed 10 kilos per week, with priority given to indigent families.
On June 5, the City Government started the selling of rice at P20 per kilo at Burgos Public Market, Central Public Market and Libertad Public Market. It was then offered to all the barangays.
Aside from indigent families, Go said that they will check the guidelines if they can offer the rice to other sectors.
“If the guidelines allow it, then other sectors can avail the rice at P20 per kilo,” he said. (MAP)
