BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occidental (June 5, 2025) — Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. and Bacolod City Mayor Albee Benitez on Thursday launched three KADIWA ng Pangulo centers in the heart of the “City of Smiles”—a compelling testament to the growing public demand for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s landmark P20 rice program.
The Bacolod City government will shoulder part of the subsidy for the P20 rice program, aimed at delivering affordable, high-quality rice to vulnerable sectors, including indigent families, solo parents, persons with disabilities, senior citizens, and minimum wage earners.
To support the city’s rollout, Bacolod has placed an order with Food Terminal Inc. (FTI)—the Department of Agriculture’s marketing arm sourcing rice from the National Food Authority—for 5,880 sacks of rice. This volume is projected to meet the city’s needs for two weeks, based on an expected daily demand of 400 50-kilo sacks.
FTI President Joseph Lo assured that the agency has sufficient stock to meet Bacolod’s requirements throughout the duration of the P20 rice pilot, which runs through December.
Agriculture Assistant Secretary Genevieve Velicaria-Guevarra, who heads the DA’s Agribusiness, Marketing, and Consumer Affairs and oversees the KADIWA program, said the launch of the KADIWA stores in Bacolod City brings the total number of outlets offering P20 rice to 87– well beyond the initial target of 55 set by Secretary Tiu Laurel for the end of June. ### (Photos by Jay Morales, DA-OSEC)
