Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr, together with Engr. Jose Albert A. Barrogo, OIC-Regional Director of Negros Island Region and FTI President Joseph Lo, joined the local farmers of Siquijor, Siquijor in an informal huddle during the P20 rice program on June 17, 2025.

Secretary Tiu Laurel said Siquijor will help draw the blueprint for expanding the program across the archipelago — one that could endure until the end of President Marcos’ term in June 2028.

Joseph Lo, president of Food Terminal Inc. (FTI), said that the Siquijor launch would serve as a testing ground for refining logistics, ensuring orderly distribution, and establishing real-time feedback systems — all vital components of a sustainable national rollout. “We’re not just delivering rice; we’re building the framework to deliver it better,” Lo said.

In this first phase, approximately 425 households — or around 1,700 individuals — will benefit from the P20-per-kilo rice in Siquijor. It’s a small step, but one with potentially far-reaching consequences for communities long burdened by rising food prices. ### (Photos by Jay Morales, DA-OSEC)