The President said that the administration’s program is feasible.
In the second episode of his official podcast on Wednesday, President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. commented about the ongoing PHP 20 rice initiative called ‘Benteng Bigas Meron Na.’
Under which, the marginalized and other sectors of the society able to buy rice for over half the market price through the Kadiwa ng Pangulo outlets.
“Since our production is already going up, bababa ang cost of production. Since bababa ang cost of production, ‘di ang pagbenta kung bibili ang NFA (National Food Authority)… pababa nang pababa,” said the President.
He emphasized, “That’s why I’m so confident masabi sustainable.”
Marcos says that the production of palay in the country has consistently been on the rise since 2023, with projections of even higher yields in 2025.
Over to the production-side, the administration noted that reforms in techniques, machinery support, and research have helped ramped up rice production in the Philippines.
With the increase in rice production, President Marcos said that it would eventually lessen the need for government subsidy to keep rice available at PHP20 per kilo.
“Pagka-gumanda nang husto ‘yung production side natin, maibababa natin, wala nang subsidy,” PBBM said.
Addressing concerns over the buying price of the stock from farmers, Marcos conveyed, “We have to support (the farmers). Kahit ano pa ang mangyari sa presyo ng bigas na ipinagbibili natin sa mga palengke, hindi natin ibababa ang buying price ng NFA. Never bababa ‘yan.”
The NFA or National Food Authority acquires palay from farmers at PHP17 to PHP18 per kilo, more than a third above than the reported price of private traders, who offer between PHP11 to PHP12.