DA News Release
March 23, 2025
The Department of Agriculture has tripled the monthly rice allocation for vulnerable sectors benefiting from the Marcos administration’s P29 rice program. The new policy allows these sectors to purchase up to 30 kilos of rice each month, a three-fold increase from the previous limit.
The vulnerable sectors, including senior citizens, persons with disabilities, solo parents, and indigents, make up several million people covered by the government’s P29 program. The rice sold under this initiative is sourced from the National Food Authority’s buffer stocks.
During the Trabaho at Serbisyong Pangkalusugan sa Bagong Pilipinas event held on Friday in Dasmariñas, Cavite, Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. announced that the new policy would be implemented nationwide immediately. The P29 rice is available at KADIWA ng Pangulo stores and centers.
“We urge you to take advantage of this new policy, which responds to the calls from our financially-challenged fellow citizens for greater access to more affordable food, especially rice,” he stated.
Rice accounts for roughly P9 of every P100 spent by the average Filipino consumer. This amount increases to over P18 per P100 for households with the lowest incomes, according to data from the Philippine Statistics Authority.
The DA launched the P29 program in July of last year to provide affordable rice options for vulnerable sectors. The Department further widened Filipinos’ rice options with the introduction last year of the Rice-for-All (RFA) program, which allows all consumers to buy unlimited amounts of rice at reduced prices. The current rice prices under the RFA are as follows: P43 per kilo for rice with 5% broken grains, P35 per kilo for rice with 25% broken grains, and P33 per kilo for 100% broken grains.
