Marcos’ PHP 20 rice rollout stalls in Aklan

By Juliane Judilla

KALIBO, Aklan — Long queues, limited supplies, and a temporary suspension of sales have raised concerns about the implementation of the Marcos administration’s PHP 20-per-kilogram rice program in Aklan.

The difficulties prompted farmers’ groups to call for greater government support for local rice production instead of continued reliance on imports.

Residents gathered at the National Food Authority Aklan Grains Center in Barangay Linabuan Sur, Banga, on Oct. 16, 2026, to buy rice under the “Benteng Bigas, Meron Na Para sa Magsasaka” initiative.

The program sells rice at PHP 20 per kilogram to qualified beneficiaries through NFA warehouses and designated distribution sites.

Eligible sectors include senior citizens, persons with disabilities, solo parents, low-income families, Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program beneficiaries, farmers, fisherfolk, minimum wage earners, and transport workers.

The Aklan rollout left many residents frustrated after only 200 people were reportedly allowed to buy rice.

Residents seeking the subsidized staple reportedly had to line up as early as 3 a.m. to register and obtain queue numbers.

Some residents said they traveled from distant communities but were unable to buy rice because they arrived after the cutoff or supplies had run out.

The NFA and Food Terminal Inc., which manages sales under the program, announced on Oct. 19 that the sale of PHP 20 rice in Aklan would be temporarily suspended because of insufficient supply.

“Abaw alas 3 it aga aga. Hay paalin ro halin sa mga maeayo nga banwa?” one resident wrote in a Facebook comment on an FTI post.

The comment translates as: “3 a.m. is [too] early. What about those who come from faraway towns?”

“Gapueaw gali kami kara. Ala 1 hay bugtaw eon ag alas 2 mapanaw. Pag abot una sa NFA hay ubos eon ro numero. Taw an it numero mga tawo agud indi magdueotdutan. Serbisyo nga patas owa it palakasan,” the resident added.

The comment translates as: “We really have to struggle here. We wake up at 1:00 AM and leave at 2:00 AM. By the time we arrive at the NFA, the queue numbers are already running low. Provide fair service to everyone, without favoritism.”

Dispute over government rice stocks

The reported shortage has intensified questions about the availability and control of government rice stocks.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the country’s total rice supply could cover about 75 days of consumption by the end of 2026 under the government’s worst-case estimate.

The 75-day estimate referred to the broader national supply and not solely to rice held by the NFA.

The Department of Agriculture reported that the NFA had an expected milled-rice inventory of 278,444 metric tons as of Sept. 18, equivalent to about seven days of national consumption.

The Federation of Free Farmers similarly estimated that government-controlled stocks could cover fewer than 10 days of consumption.

The federation said much of the broader national inventory was held by private traders, millers, importers, and households, limiting the government’s ability to draw on those stocks during emergencies.

Philippine Statistics Authority data placed the country’s total rice inventory at 1.91 million metric tons as of Sept. 1, down 8 percent from the same period in 2025.

The PSA also reported that rice stocks in NFA depositories fell 36.1 percent year on year.

The supply concerns have intensified as the Philippines faces weather-related threats from El Niño, flooding, and other natural disasters.

The state weather bureau said a strong to very strong El Niño was present in the tropical Pacific and could peak before the end of 2026 before continuing through the first half of 2027.

The Philippines remained the world’s leading importer of milled rice in 2025, when it brought in 3.48 million metric tons, according to data cited by the Congressional Policy and Budget Research Department.

A memorandum of understanding between the Philippine Rice Industry Stakeholders Movement and USA Rice calls for private Philippine buyers to purchase 100,000 metric tons of U.S. rice annually beginning in 2027.

The planned volume would increase to 200,000 metric tons annually beginning in 2028.

Philippine Statistics Authority data show that the country’s rice self-sufficiency ratio was about 91 percent in 1990 and 78.1 percent in 2025.

The 2025 ratio, which measures the share of domestic rice requirements met by local production, nevertheless improved from a 37-year low of 71.7 percent in 2024.

Farmers call for policy changes

Farmers’ organizations said the difficulties residents encountered in obtaining subsidized rice reflected the deeper problem of continued import dependence amid stagnant domestic production.

Lucia Capaducio, chairperson of the Paghugpong sang mga Mangunguma sa Panay kag Guimaras, said worsening climate and disaster risks, including El Niño and flooding, exposed what she described as the Marcos administration’s failure to adequately protect farmers and ensure a stable food supply.

Capaducio said the government should prioritize local agricultural production instead of relying on imported rice to keep prices low.

She also called for the repeal of the Rice Tariffication Law, which farmers’ groups have criticized for its effects on domestic producers.

The law liberalized rice imports in 2019 by replacing quantitative restrictions with tariffs.

Republic Act 12078 amended the policy in 2024 and increased the annual Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund to PHP 30 billion through 2031.

Danilo Ramos of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas said the PHP 20 rice program was not a sufficient long-term solution if the country continued to depend on imported supplies.

Ramos called on the government to strengthen local production through agricultural subsidies and compensate farmers whose livelihoods were damaged by successive natural disasters.

He also sought a stronger role for the NFA in maintaining adequate rice supplies, stabilizing prices, and protecting farmers and consumers.

Beyond the PHP 20 price tag

The controversy in Aklan has renewed attention on the challenge of providing affordable rice while maintaining a stable domestic supply.

Subsidized rice programs can ease the burden on vulnerable households, but limited access and interruptions can undermine their intended benefits.

Farmers’ groups said a sustainable approach requires greater investment in local rice production, stronger support for disaster-affected farmers, and sufficient NFA capacity to help stabilize supplies and prices.

They argued that food security must extend beyond offering cheaper rice by ensuring that Filipino farmers have the resources and support to meet the country’s needs.