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CEBU CITY — Although she opposed the P20-per-kilo rice program during the campaign, Cebu Governor-elect Pamela Baricuatro has now pledged to sustain and expand the initiative across the province.
Baricuatro expressed support for the program's continuation but noted that its rollout would still hinge on the availability of government funds.
"I want everyone to have access to the P20-per-kilo rice," she said, underscoring her goal of making affordable food accessible to all, not just to vulnerable groups.
"It should not be selective," she said in an interview after her oath-taking on Thursday.
Baricuatro also said food security remains one of her administration's priorities, and her team is studying ways to sustain the initiative for the long term.
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The program, launched in Cebu by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and outgoing Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia on May 1, was temporarily suspended due to the May 12 midterm elections but resumed immediately after.
It forms part of the Marcos administration's national effort to provide affordable rice amid a declared food security emergency.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. earlier linked the initiative to the "Bente Bigas Meron Na" pilot program. Under this scheme, rice originally priced at P33 per kilo is subsidized by P13.
The subsidy is split equally between local government units (LGUs) and the national government until December 2025, bringing the price down to P20 per kilo.
However, starting 2026, the national government will shoulder the full subsidy.
Baricuatro's shift in stance comes as the National Food Authority (NFA) confirmed the arrival of over 60,000 sacks of rice in Cebu from various regions, including 35,000 from Region 4, 20,000 from Region 6, and 13,600 from Regions 8, 9 and 10.
NFA Administrator Larry Lacson, who inspected the delivery on May 23, said the rice stocks would be used not only for the P20-per-kilo rice program but also for the needs of provincial jails and the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
Lacson clarified that the rice varies in grain size and color but meets all safety standards.
The NFA implements an inclusive procurement policy by purchasing all types of rice harvested by farmers, regardless of variety or quality.
As of Friday, Central Visayas has received a total of 68,600 sacks of rice. Several towns in Cebu have already made withdrawals, including Pinamungajan with 200 sacks, Medellin with 79, Catmon with 130, Tabogon with 325, Talisay with 400, and San Fernando with 100.
Lacson reported that the national rice buffer stock currently stands at 419,000 metric tons, the highest level recorded since 2020.
This volume is equivalent to 10.8 days of national consumption without any incoming shipments.
Lacson estimated that the stock translates to more than 8.3 million sacks of rice across the country.
He assured the public that the supply is sustainable through the end of 2025 and likely into the early months of 2026, with preparations already ongoing to replenish stocks ahead of the 2026 harvest season.
