by Carla P. Gomez

The Department of Agriculture’s announcement that government will sell rice at P20 a kilo in the Visayas drew mixed reactions on Thursday, April 24.

Under the P20 a kilo program, each family in the Visayas will be allowed a 10-kg. purchase per week or a total of 40 kg. every month, the DA said.

Pedro Limpangog, president of the Federation of Irrigators Association Central Negros- Bago River Irrigation System (FIACN-BRIS), said if government buys farmers palay at subsidized rates they will not be too affected by government’s selling rice at P20 kilo

In the past there was a Bagong Bayaning Magsasaka Rice (BBM Rice) program where government bought the farmers palay, he said.

He said palay is currently selling at P20 a kilo but during rainy season the price drops.

If the farmers sell their rice to the National Food Authority and the local governments add subsidies, they will be able to break even on their production cost, he said.

He said some LGUs in Negros have provided additional subsidies to farmers ranging from P1 to P5 a kilo, he said.

Jesus Jimenez , Negros Occidental Accredited Seed Producers Cooperative chairman, said the government’s announcement that it will sell rice at P20 a kilo is a political move to show that the president can reduce prices especially as the election approaches.

Selling rice at P20 a kilo will affect the farmers especially at the peak of the harvest season when the prices of palay usually drop, he said.

What trader would buy palay at higher prices if they have competition from government that will sell rice at P20? he asked.

The traders will not buy palay at higher prices if they will lose, which will be at the expense of the farmers, he said.

Government should let the market forces prevail, he added.

He also said government’s sale of rice at P20 a kilo will have minimal effect as it will only cover about 2 percent of the population’s needs.

Published Date: April 25, 2025