The Department of Agriculture (DA) is moving forward with expansion of the P20 rice program of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to smallholder rice farmers despite criticisms of self-styled farmer leaders.

Slated for launch on August 13, the initiative will allow millions of rice farmers—those tilling no more than three hectares and registered under the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture—to purchase up to 10 kilos of rice per month at a subsidized price of P20 per kilo. Farmers and farm workers may also opt to claim the full allocation of one 50-kilo sack between August and December this year.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. defended the program against detractors who call it a temporary fix that fails to address deeper structural issues in the sector.

“We’re offering affordable food to those who need it most,” he said. “No one is being forced to avail of it. We’re simply trying to make life a little less difficult for the people who feed this country. This is one step—just one—toward greater food security.”

Tiu Laurel acknowledged that longer-term reforms are in motion, including proposals to increase rice import tax and suspend importation. But he noted that the pace of policy change has been hampered by a lack of reliable data—something that would have been accessible had the National Food Authority retained its regulatory functions.

“Without accurate, timely data, we risk making policy in the dark,” he said. “We listen to the people with their boots in the mud—the farmers who work the land—not to armchair critics who offer no real solutions.”

Addressing the program’s detractors directly, Tiu Laurel added: “Criticism without constructive alternatives only slows us down. If you truly care about the sector, offer ideas. Help us build. Don’t just tear down.” ### (AFID file photo)