BACOLOD City – The city government has assured the public that the P20-per-kilo rice program will continue, even as the current rice supply is expected to run out today, June 26, and a new city administration is set to take over.
Outgoing Mayor Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez said in an interview that he has already discussed the program with incoming mayor Greg Gasataya to ensure that additional rice purchases will be made.
“The program will continue until the end of December, after which the national government is expected to take over,” Mayor Benitez said.
The city government initially procured 5,880 bags of rice worth P7.7 million, and the program was officially launched on June 5 at Burgos Market.
Brenda Burdeos, head of the City Cooperative and Livelihood Development Office (CCLDO), said that on the final day of the initial rollout, the P20/kilo rice will be available in Barangays Montevista and 16.
The CCLDO, tasked with implementing the program, scheduled its distribution across all 61 barangays in the city following the initial simultaneous launch at the Burgos, Libertad, and Central markets.
To ensure fair distribution, the city has limited the allocation to a maximum of 10 kilos per household, prioritizing marginalized and indigent sectors.
According to reports, the Food Terminal Inc. (FTI) serves as the implementing agency responsible for the sale of rice to local government units (LGUs). FTI procures rice from the National Food Authority (NFA) at P33/kilo and sells it to LGUs at a subsidized price of P26.50/kilo, enabling the Bacolod City government to offer it to beneficiaries at P20/kilo./PN
