Latest news with #KadiwangPangulo
Filipino Times
07-07-2025
- Business
- Filipino Times
Philippine government to expand affordable rice program amid farmers concerns
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. assured the public that the government's PHP20 per kilo rice program will continue and expand to more public markets. In his weekly video vlog posted on Sunday, the President said the affordable rice program reflects the administration's efforts to reduce food prices while supporting Filipino farmers. 'P20 rice is here to stay. It is achievable, it is sustainable. Kaya abangan ninyo sa inyong mga palengke,' Marcos said. The Benteng Bigas Meron Na! (BBM) initiative is currently available through Kadiwa ng Pangulo outlets and can be purchased by senior citizens, solo parents, persons with disabilities, minimum wage earners, and low-income families. The government aims to reach one million beneficiaries by the end of the year. Marcos also called on newly elected and appointed local government officials, who assumed office on June 30, to work closely with national agencies to improve the delivery of public services. 'Tapos na po ang bahagi ng politika, serbisyo publiko na ang haharapin ninyo ngayon,' he added. Amid concerns that the PHP20 rice may negatively impact local farmers, Marcos said the National Food Authority (NFA) will continue to purchase palay at stable support prices: PHP18 per kilo for wet palay and PHP19 to PHP23 per kilo for dry palay. He also noted that the government is expanding the construction of rice processing facilities and dryers nationwide to help farmers store and process their harvests.
GMA Network
02-07-2025
- Business
- GMA Network
Marcos launches P20 per kilo of rice in Bacoor, Cavite
President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. and Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. watch as vendors at the Kadiwa ng Pangulo sell rice at P20 per kilo in Bacoor, Cavite on Wednesday, July 2, 2025. MPC Pool President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. on Wednesday led the launch of the P20 per kilo of rice in Bacoor, Cavite. Marcos witnessed the selling of rice with Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. at the Zapote Public Market. Those who can avail of the P20 per kilo of rice are those from the vulnerable sector, including beneficiaries of the 4Ps, senior citizens, persons with disability, and solo parents. Each buyer can avail of five to 10 kilos of rice. The President earlier explained why it took time for him to fulfill his campaign promise of P20 per kilo of rice, noting that the government needs to provide assistance first to the local farmers, including the provision of machinery. The Department of Agriculture (DA) initially implemented the sale of rice at P20 per kilo in the Visayas region. According to the DA, Marcos wants it to be implemented across the country in the long run. The second phase, which will commence this month, will be in the Mindanao region. The rice sold in Kadiwa centers is subsidized by the government through the Food Terminal Inc. The DA is aiming to sustain the program until the end of Marcos' term in June 2028, potentially covering up to 15 million households, or approximately 60 million Filipinos. —KG, GMA Integrated News
Filipino Times
18-06-2025
- Business
- Filipino Times
Marcos confident P20-per-kilo rice is sustainable as production increases
President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. reaffirmed his confidence in sustaining the P20-per-kilo rice initiative, citing improved rice production as a key factor. Speaking in a new episode of the BBM Podcast, the President explained that as rice production continues to rise, the cost of production decreases—allowing the National Food Authority (NFA) to sell rice at lower prices. 'Since our production is already going up, the cost of production will decrease. That means the NFA can sell at even lower prices,' Marcos said in Filipino. He emphasized that the government is supporting this effort by providing more farming equipment and enhancing irrigation systems. Marcos also assured farmers that the buying price of palay (unhusked rice) will not be reduced despite cheaper market prices for rice. 'We have to support them. Whatever happens to the retail price of rice, we won't lower the NFA's buying price,' he added. Marcos acknowledged that the rollout of his campaign promise took time, as the government had to ensure support mechanisms were in place for farmers. The Department of Agriculture initially launched the P20-per-kilo rice in the Visayas, targeting vulnerable groups through the Kadiwa ng Pangulo program. These include indigents, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, solo parents, and minimum wage earners. The program's second phase will begin in July in Mindanao. Marcos also revealed plans for the national government to fully shoulder the program's cost next year, replacing local government contributions. 'Eventually, I'm looking at a proposal that by next year, the contribution will come entirely from the national government,' he said.
GMA Network
18-06-2025
- Business
- GMA Network
Marcos on P20/kilo of rice: I'm confident it's sustainable
President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. on Wednesday expressed confidence anew that his administration could sustain the implementation of the P20 per kilo of rice. In an episode of the BBM Podcast, Marcos was asked how will the government sustain this program. He then emphasized that rice production has slowly been increasing. ''Since our production is already going up, bababa ang cost of production. Since bababa ang cost of production, di ang pagbenta, kung bibili ang NFA, ang pagbenta ng NFA, pababa nang pababa,'' Marcos said. (Since our production is already going up, the cost of production will decrease. Since the cost of the production will be lowered, then the selling of NFA will also be cheaper.) ''That's why I'm so confident masabi [na] sustainable,'' the President added. Marcos said the government would continue to provide machinery to farmers and improve the irrigation system. Marcos also assured the local farmers that even the price of rice would be cheaper, the buying price of palay will not be lowered. ''We have to support them so kahit ano pa ang mangyari sa presyo ng bigas na ipinagbibili sa mga palengke, hindi natin ibababa ang buying price ng NFA. Never bababa 'yan,'' he said. (We have to support them so whatever happens with the price of rice being sold in markets, we will not lower the buying price of NFA.) The President earlier explained why it took time for him to fulfill his campaign promise of P20 per kilo of rice, noting that the government needs to provide assistance first to the local farmers, including the provision of machinery. The Department of Agriculture (DA) initially implemented the sale of rice at P20 per kilo in the Visayas region. According to the DA, Marcos wants it to be implemented across the country in the long run. The second phase, which will commence in July, will be in the Mindanao region. The P20 per kilogram rice initiative under the Kadiwa ng Pangulo program only allows members of vulnerable sectors—including indigents, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and solo parents to buy NFA rice at P20 per kilogram. Moreover, the government's P20 per kilogram subsidized rice can also be availed by minimum wage earners. Marcos said at present, the DA is in partnership with local government units in selling the P20 per kilo of rice. However, he is eyeing that this will be shouldered by the national government next year. ''Eventually, I'm looking at a proposal na next year, wala ng contribution ang LGU. Ang contribution, lahat national government,'' Marcos said. (Eventually, I'm looking at a proposal that by next year, there will be no more contributions from LGUs. The contribution will all be from the national government.) — RSJ, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
11-06-2025
- Business
- GMA Network
Over 2,400 jobs up for grabs in Independence Day fair in Davao City
Jobseekers in Davao City will have a chance to land employment as more than 2,400 job vacancies will be offered during the Kalayaan Job Fair of the Department of Labor and Employment-Davao (DOLE-11) on Independence Day, June 12, 2025. The Job Fair will take place at a mall in Ecoland and will feature 2,453 job openings from both local and overseas employers. According to DOLE-11, 19 local companies will be participating and are set to offer nearly 1,400 vacancies while five overseas employers will offer over 1,000 job opportunities abroad. 'Nanginahanglan mi nga daghan pa og masulod o ma-absorb sa atong mga employers, considering nga ang atong vacancies anaa sa 2k,' DOLE-11 Director, Atty. Randolf Pensoy, said. In-demand local positions include customer support staff or service representatives in the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sector, cashiers or tellers, customer service assistants, baggers, service crew, heavy equipment mechanics and drivers, hydraulic mechanics, production workers, and civil engineering positions. For overseas employment, job openings include branch managers, waiters, welders, registered nurses, and security guards. Destinations for overseas work include United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Croatia, and Japan. There are also job opportunities for high school and senior high school graduates. 'We have a total of around 886 ka job vacancies. This is composed of around 32 ka occupations sa atong senior high,' DOLE-11 Regional Employment Program Focal Person, Suzette Jane Antiveros, said. In addition to the job fair, a Kadiwa ng Pangulo market event will be held with 30 sellers from 10 farmer's associations. Each seller will receive financial assistance through the TUPAD (Tulong Panghanapbuhay Sa Ating Disadvantaged). 'If you ask then, if you have some pay outs this coming June 12, wala na kay apil paman ta sa election ban until June 12 man ang election ban,' Pensoy added. Government services will also be made available on-site through a one-stop-shop.
