A woman cares for her infant as she shops at a rice retailer at a public market in Pasig City on January 16, 2025. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File

Katrina Domingo

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/174582263099120250116-rice-retailer-pasig-JC-7 (1).jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">A woman cares for her infant as she shops at a rice retailer at a public market in Pasig City on January 16, 2025. <em>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA (<strong>UPDATED</strong>) — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration will continue to broaden some of its social programs to address poverty in the country, Malacañang said on Monday, a day after a survey showed that self-rated poverty consistently rose in the Philippines since 2015.</p><p>Fifty-five percent of Filipinos considered themselves poor this month, according to data from a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey conducted in mid-April.</p><p>This is a higher number compared to self-rated poverty numbers in January at 50 percent, in February at 51 percent, and in March at 52 percent.</p><p>“Lahat po naman ng lehitimong survey ay kinikilala at kinukonsidera ng pamahalaang Marcos,” Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said in a Palace briefing.</p><p>“Dahil po dito… papalawigin pa po ang mga programa para matugunan po ang mga isyu patungkol sa kahirapan at kagutuman, iyan po ang talagang ninanais,” she said.</p><p>Among the programs that the administration seeks to broaden are the Social Welfare Department’s “Walang Gutom Program,” school-based feeding programs, and the Agriculture Department’s <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/4/23/agri-dept-to-sell-p20-kilo-rice-in-visayas-1542">P20 per kilo rice</a>, Castro said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>P20/KG RICE</strong></div><p>Castro defended the administration’s P20 per kilogram rice program that is expected to be rolled out in the Visayas in May.</p><p>“Pinapasinungalingan namin yung sinasabi sa balita na ito ay may amoy. Hindi pa nagro-roll out [yung bigas] so ito ay disinformation,” she said. </p><p>“Dapat wala po tayong pagdududa… sa local farmers po ito kukunin,” she said.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/4/24/da-promises-quality-p20-kg-rice-farmers-say-program-is-poll-gimmick-1832">DA promises quality P20/kg rice; farmers say program is &#x27;poll gimmick&#x27;</a></div><p>Vice President Sara Duterte earlier questioned the timing of the administration’s P20 per kilo rice program as it was launched weeks before the 2025 midterm elections, and shortly after Marcos Jr. registered a steep decline in his approval ratings.</p><p>Castro said the administration was working to “sustain” the subsidized rice program in the Visayas until December, before funding for the program could be incorporated into the 2026 national budget.</p><div><a class="fr-strong fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/4/27/wrap-p20-kg-rice-a-promise-kept-or-a-come-on-for-midterm-votes-1931">P20/kg rice, a promise kept or a come-on for midterm votes?</a></div><p>A lawmaker has urged the government to expand the implementation of its P20 per kilogram rice program nationwide, as it may otherwise be viewed as an &quot;election gimmick.&quot;</p><p>&quot;Sana all, &#x27;di ba?&quot; said House Deputy Minority Leader and ACT Teachers Party List Representative France Castro. &quot;So china-challenge natin ang Marcos administration na hindi lang sa Visayas, kundi gawin ito, iimplement ito sa lahat ng parte ng ating bansa.&quot;</p><p>&quot;Kasi, mapipilitan kami magsabi na baka naman election gimmick lang ito,&quot; she added.</p><p>She also fired back at the vice-president for her criticism of the program, saying: &quot;Bilang Vice President, wala rin naman siyang naging effort para mabigyan talaga ang ating mga kababayan ng mas murang bigas, at kalidad na bigas na makakain.&quot;</p><p>&quot;Part siya ng gobyerno eh… Kaya lang wala siyang ginagawa,&quot; Rep. Castro added. &quot;Sa panahon naman ng tatay niya ay hindi naman ‘yun nagawa. In fact, nagsimula ‘yung pagpapataas ng presyo ng bigas doon sa panahon din ng tatay niya, at ‘yung mas maraming importasyon ng bigas… Dapat manalamin muna siya.&quot; -- <strong>with reports from Vivienne Gulla, ABS-CBN News</strong></p>

<p>President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration will continue to broaden some of its social programs to address poverty in the country, Malacañang said on Monday, a day after a survey showed that self-rated poverty consistently rose in the Philippines since 2015.</p>

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration will continue to broaden some of its social programs to address poverty in the country, Malacañang said on Monday, a day after a survey showed that self-rated poverty consistently rose in the Philippines since 2015.

Gov’t to expand P20/kg rice, feeding programs to ease self-rated poverty: Palace | ABS-CBN

Halalan 2025

Entertainment

News

Metro.Style

Lifestyle

Sports

More

Traffic

Horoscope

Nation

Gov’t to expand P20/kg rice, feeding programs to ease self-rated poverty: Palace

Gov’t to expand P20/kg rice, feeding programs to ease self-rated poverty: Palace

Katrina Domingo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Apr 28, 2025 02:45 PM PHT

|

Updated Apr 28, 2025 04:59 PM PHT

Read More:

ABSNews

PCO

Presidential Communications Office

poverty

P20 rice

20 pesos rice

feeding programs

food

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.