BACOLOD City – The city government here is preparing for the second round of procurement under the P20-per-kilo rice program, a joint initiative of the local government unit (LGU) and the Department of Agriculture (DA).
The first batch of the program was launched on June 5 at the Burgos Public Market, with the city purchasing 5,880 bags of rice worth P7.7 million.
Atty. Marty Go, secretary-to-the-mayor, confirmed that the purchase request is now being prepared following the go-signal from Mayor Greg Gasataya.
However, Go said the second batch will involve fewer bags compared to the initial procurement.
“If the first batch was over 5,000 bags, this time it will be around 3,000 plus. The original fund allocation was approximately P13 million. With the first purchase amounting to around P7 million, the remaining balance — after deducting the subsidy — will be used for the second procurement,” Go explained.
He estimated that the city will procure around 3,930 bags for the second batch, with an estimated cost of P5.2 million.
The P20/kilo rice program is part of a national initiative in which the Food Terminal Incorporated (FTI), the DA’s implementing arm, facilitates the sale of rice to LGUs. The rice is sourced from the National Food Authority (NFA) at P33/kilo and sold to LGUs at a subsidized rate of P26.50/kilo.
The LGUs, in turn, resell the rice to their constituents at P20/kilo. The P13/kilo subsidy is equally shared between the LGU and FTI.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. previously announced that the LGU-led implementation of the program will continue until the end of 2025. Beginning next year, the national government is expected to take over the full implementation of the program./PN
