PBBM confident rice prices to hit P20/kilo soon

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. reiterated his confidence in achieving his goal of lowering rice prices to P20 per kilo, stating that prices are nearing the target at P25 per kilo.

He made these remarks during the launch of the Kadiwa Ng Pangulo project in Pili, Camarines Sur, which aims to connect farmers directly to consumers through subsidized transport and over 500 stalls nationwide.

However, rice watch group Bantay Bigas called the President's promise "empty rhetoric," questioning the basis of his pronouncements.

Bantay Bigas chairperson Cathy Estavillo pointed out that rice prices at the Kadiwa Center in Quezon City range from P38-P50 per kilo, similar to most wet markets.

Estavillo stated that it is unlikely to sell rice at P20 per kilo when palay (unhusked rice) is already at P23 per kilo.

She suggested that drastic government policies, such as heavy subsidies to farmers, would be necessary to make P20 per kilo rice a reality.