AGRICULTURE Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. on Tuesday rolled out in this capital town the P20 rice program, a bold initiative aimed at delivering affordable rice to Filipinos and fulfilling the vision of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of inclusive growth and a food-secure Philippines.
“The launch of the P20 program in this magical island of Siquijor serves as a strategic model for the initial rollout of the program across other island provinces,” said Secretary Tiu Laurel.
With this initial deployment, the Department of Agriculture hopes to draw crucial insights into the logistical and community challenges of delivering subsidized rice to remote and underserved areas.
Secretary Tiu Laure said Siquijor will help draw the blueprint for expanding the program across the archipelago — one that could endure until the end of President Marcos’ term in June 2028.
Joseph Lo, president of Food Terminal Inc. (FTI), said that the Siquijor launch would serve as a testing ground for refining logistics, ensuring orderly distribution, and establishing real-time feedback systems — all vital components of a sustainable national rollout. “We’re not just delivering rice; we’re building the framework to deliver it better,” Lo said.
In this first phase, approximately 425 households — or around 1,700 individuals — will benefit from the P20-per-kilo rice in Siquijor. It’s a small step, but one with potentially far-reaching consequences for communities long burdened by rising food prices.
The Siquijor rollout follows a similar pilot conducted in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, another province in the recently re-established Negros Island Region (NIR). The NIR, one of the poorer areas in the Visayas, has been identified as a focal point for the program’s pilot phase, which will run through December 2025.
As rice remains a symbol of survival and dignity in Filipino households, the P20 program signals more than just a policy shift — it represents a promise to those who have long waited for real, tangible relief
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