2 more Eastern Visayas towns to sell rice at P20 per kilo

BENEFICIARIES Poor residents of Biliran town in Biliran province can now buy up to 5 kilos of rice at P20 per kilo. The sale of cheap rice, shown in this June 18 photo, is done once a week. —photo courtesy of Cristina Corpin

TACLOBAN CITY, LEYTE, Philippines — Two more towns in two provinces in Eastern Visayas will be selling rice at P20 per kilo in a bid to deliver the campaign promise made by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to sell the staple at that price when he was running for the country’s top post two years ago.

The municipalities of Basey in Samar and San Juan in Southern Leyte have decided to follow the program initiated by Biliran town in Biliran province.

Lemuel Vance Antonio, municipal agriculture officer of Biliran, said they have received requests from Basey and San Juan to teach them how to sell rice at a cheaper price.

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“They want to replicate our program, and we are very pleased because the program aims to assist the poor, particularly those in poverty,” he said.

Biliran town is a pioneer in Eastern Visayas in consistently offering rice at P20 per kilo.

Antonio explained that the program, which began last year, was launched in response to President Marcos’ directive to sell rice at P20 per kilo.

“The primary beneficiaries are the poor, including senior citizens without their own income, who struggle with rice prices exceeding P40 per kilogram in the market,” he said.

Under Biliran’s program, identified beneficiaries can purchase five kilos per week at P20 per kilo from their Kadiwa Center and identified outlets in barangays.

“Our program has been successful. We’re able to convince our farmers to participate. This is their contribution to our efforts in addressing hunger and malnutrition issues,” Antonio said.

According to records, 740 farmers in Biliran have enrolled in the program, cultivating a combined rice land area of 700 hectares.

These farmers receive free bags of fertilizer and seeds from the Department of Agriculture. In return, the farmers sell a portion of their rice harvest at P20 per kilo.

Each week, approximately 2,000 kg of rice are distributed through the Kadiwa Center and barangay outlets.