PNFSP Position Statement on the Marcos Jr. Administration’s Announcement to Begin P20/kilo Rice Sales in the Visayas

The Philippine Network of Food Security Programmes (PNFSP) stands with the Filipino people in demanding genuine solutions to hunger and poverty. We take critical note of the Marcos Jr. administration’s recent announcement to roll out rice at P20 per kilo, starting in the Visayas—a region long burdened by economic neglect and systemic food insecurity. While this move may offer temporary relief to struggling communities, we assert that real food justice cannot be achieved through stopgap measures alone.

As grassroots advocates for the right to food and national food self-sufficiency, especially for the poor and marginalized, we assert that access to affordable rice must never be reduced to a mere handout or used as a political gimmick. The timing and framing of this announcement reek of opportunism, especially with elections looming on the horizon. We see this move not as a genuine response to the people's needs, but as a calculated attempt to curry favor while leaving the roots of hunger and agricultural neglect untouched.

What our nation needs is not tokenistic subsidies, but a radical overhaul of the food system—one that places Filipino farmers at the center, dismantles exploitative market dynamics, and breaks our dangerous dependence on imports. We call for food sovereignty that serves the people, not the pockets of the few. Our communities deserve more than temporary relief—they deserve lasting justice, dignity, and the right to food grown by Filipino hands, for Filipino tables.

We emphasize further that genuine food security goes beyond the reduction of prices at the point of sale. The government must ensure that this move is not merely a short-term palliative, but rather part of a comprehensive, transparent, and sustainable food strategy that empowers Filipino farmers, protects local agriculture, and respects the people’s right to adequate, accessible, and nutritious food.

The decision to pilot the P20/kilo rice program in the Visayas, where the need is deemed greatest, should be guided by clear data, inclusive consultation with local communities, and alignment with national food self-sufficiency goals. Moreover, the source of this low-cost rice must be disclosed: is it locally produced or imported? If it is the latter, we urge the administration to be cautious, as flooding the market with imported rice could further displace our already struggling farmers, deepen rural poverty, and weaken local production capacities.

PNFSP calls on the Marcos Jr. government to:

1. Ensure Transparency – Make public the mechanisms, sources, and funding behind the P20/kilo rice program.

2. Support Local Farmers – Guarantee that farmers are not harmed by the program. Procurement of local palay at fair farmgate prices must be prioritized.

3. Invest in Long-Term Solutions – Strengthen rural development, irrigation, post-harvest facilities, and extension services to genuinely achieve rice self-sufficiency.

4. Ensure Equitable Distribution – The poorest and most food-insecure communities, including those outside the Visayas, must be reached.

5. Uphold the Right to Food – Frame the rice subsidy initiative within a broader rights-based approach to food and nutrition security.

   
   

We reiterate: food security is a matter of justice, not charity. Every Filipino deserves access to affordable, healthy, and culturally appropriate food—and our farmers deserve to live with dignity from the fruits of their labor. Let this be a step not just toward cheaper rice, but toward a more just and food-secure Philippines.