CEBU CITY – For 66-year-old Dionisio Sigue Parba, a resident of Lawa-an II, Talisay City, the official launch of the P20 Rice Program on May 1, meant immediate relief as he became the first beneficiary to purchase the subsidized rice.
Parba was among thousands of indigent residents in Cebu province who gathered to avail themselves of the program, which offers quality rice at P20 per kilo – a fulfillment of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s electoral campaign promise to make rice more affordable for Filipinos. Each beneficiary is allowed to purchase up to 10 kilos per pack.
Overwhelmed with gratitude after buying the affordable rice in front of the Cebu Provincial Capitol, Parba thanked the government for providing much-needed financial relief for his family.
“Nalipay kaayo ko’g dako kay nakapalit ko og P20 kilo nga bugas. Makatabang ni’g dako sa akong pamilya,” he said. (I’m very happy that I was able to buy rice at P20 per kilo. This will greatly help my family.)
Elmer Lastimosa, another resident of Talisay City and a person with disability (PWD), echoed Parba’s appreciation, thanking the President for making affordable rice available at a time when rice prices are soaring.
“Salamat kaayo nga naa na’y tag P20 kilo nga bugas kay mahal kaayong bugas ron,” he said. (Thank you so much that there is P20-per-kilo rice, especially now that rice prices are so high.)
Senior citizens Amelia Taburnal from Barangay Banilad and Falconiere E. Oppus from Barangay Tisa in Cebu City also expressed their gratitude, stating that the program would significantly ease the burden on their limited budgets.
“Nalipay jud mi nga naa na’y tag P20 nga bugas. Dako kaayo ug tabang kay makuan na ang among budget sa adlaw. Akong mensahe sa presidente, kinahanglan magtuloy-tuloy ang P20 nga bugas sa tanan nga katawhan,” Taburnal said. (We are truly happy that there is now 20-peso rice. This is a big help because our daily budget can now cover more. My message to the president is that the 20-peso rice needs to continue for all the people.)
Oppus added, “Nalipay gyud mi nga naa na ang P20 kilo nga gisaad. Sa atong presidente, salamat kaayo nga gituman nimo. Makakaon na intawon mi nga mga pobre,” (We are truly happy that the promised 20-peso rice is now here. To our president, thank you so much for fulfilling your promise. We poor people can finally eat properly.)
For Dionelyn Q. Panigan, a 23-year-old vegetable vendor from Tuburan, the P20 Rice program offers benefits not only to consumers but also to the farmers who participated in the Kadiwa ng Pangulo, a highlight of the launching ceremony. The Kadiwa featured 50 farmers selling their produce directly to consumers.
Jomar Goc-ong, a 28-year-old 2021 Young Farmer Awardee from Borbon, was among the farmers in the Kadiwa, selling fresh vegetables, planting materials, and breadfruit plants. Goc-ong expressed his gratitude to the government for making affordable rice accessible to the public. “Ang P20 na bigas ay isa pong malaking tulong para naman po maibsan ang ating gastusin lalo na po sa bigas,” he said. (The P20 rice is a big help in reducing our daily expenses, especially for rice.) He also voiced his full support for the program and hopes for its sustainability.
During the launch, Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr., along with officials from the Cebu Provincial Government, Department of Tourism, and the Food Terminal Inc. (FTI), signed a memorandum of agreement for the implementation of the P20-per-kilo rice program in Cebu, starting this week. The P20 Rice Program is a key promise of President Marcos, aimed at improving food affordability amid the rising cost of living. (Marifel Faith Hammond)
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