Tovic Salvador

Postponed rollout of P20/kilo rice shows program unsustainable — agri groups

Article (news)

Marilyn Cahatol

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17463272980351746327295279.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><p>MANILA — The postponed rollout of the P20/kilogram rice program shows that is unsustainable and is a “grand deception,” agricultural groups Kilusang Mambubukid ng Pilipinas and Amihan National Federation of Peasant Women said Wednesday.</p><p>The statement comes after the Department of Agriculture announced that the program&#x27;s implementation was moved to May 13 to give way to the 10-day ban on government spending because of the elections this month.</p><p>“Simula’t sapul, malinaw na propaganda at panloloko ang Bente Bigas Mo. Ang postponement nito ay pruweba na walang kakayahan at walang intensyon ang gobyernong Marcos Jr. na ibaba talaga ang presyo ng bigas. Hindi ito solusyon, kundi panlilinlang habang patuloy ang pagkalam ng sikmura ng mamamayan,” said Danilo Ramos, chairperson of KMP and a candidate for senator with the Makabayan coalition.</p><p>(From the beginning, it is clear that Bente Bigas Mo is propaganda and deception. Its postponement proves that the Marcos Jr. administration does not have the capability and intention to lower the rice prices. It is not a solution, but deception while the masses suffer from hunger.)</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/5/3/da-eyes-to-release-p20-per-kg-rice-in-32-luzon-areas-after-2025-elections-1330">DA eyes to release P20 per kg rice in 32 Luzon areas after 2025 elections</a></div><p>The groups said the Bente Bigas Mo program is bound to fail due to the Rice Liberalization Law, which removed importation restrictions but imposed tariffs on rice from abroad.</p><p>Farmers&#x27; groups, including KMP, have said rice importation has led to even lower farm gate prices of palay but has not lowered rice prices for consumers.</p><p>KMP and Amihan reiterated their call to junk the law and implement a genuine agrarian reform.</p><p>“Hindi ‘Bente Bigas Mo,’ kundi Bente Milyong Pilipinong Nagugutom ang realidad. Tama na ang panloloko. Ibalik ang suporta sa lokal na produksyon ng bigas, hindi importasyon,” said Cathy Estavillo, secretary-general of Amihan.</p><p>(The reality is not P20 per kilo of rice, but 20 million hungry Filipinos. Stop the lies. Bring back the support for local production of rice, not for importation.)</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/5/1/p20-kilo-rice-officially-sold-in-the-visayas-1704">P20/kilo rice officially sold in the Visayas</a></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3RvwBM9FtIE?si=tuWTTBwtn6cxK2ZP" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>The statement comes after the Department of Agriculture announced that the program's implementation was moved to May 13 to give way to the 10-day ban on government spending because of the elections this month.</p>

The statement comes after the Department of Agriculture announced that the program's implementation was moved to May 13 to give way to the 10-day ban on government spending because of the elections this month.