FACT CHECK: Marcos’ P20/kilo rice promise remains unfulfilled
Claim: President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has fulfilled his campaign promise to lower the price of rice to P20 per kilo.
Rating: FALSE
Why we fact-checked this: The content creator who posted the video has 1.39 million subscribers, and the YouTube video containing the claim has 142,000 views, 10,000 likes, 377 shares, and 1,825 comments as of writing.
The title of the video states: “[Naku] eto na! Bagsak na sa 20 [pesos] ang bigas? (This is it! Rice now down to 20 pesos?)”
The thumbnail shows Marcos alongside rice priced at P20 per kilo, with the text “Ayan na ang hinihintay! Bente pesos na? (This is what you’ve been waiting for! It’s P20 already?)”
In the video, however, the narrator talks about the Bagong Bayaning Magsasaka (BBM) Rice priced at P29 per kilo. The narrator also claims Marcos did not promise to lower rice prices to P20 per kilo, but only stated that he wanted to do so.
The facts: Contrary to the claim, Marcos vowed to bring down the price of rice to P20 per kilo during his 2022 presidential campaign. However, this remains unfulfilled.
Based on the Department of Agriculture (DA)’s price monitoring as of January 6, 2025, imported regular milled rice in Metro Manila markets costs between P40 and P48 per kilo, while local regular milled rice is at P38 to P48 per kilo. Meanwhile, imported well-milled rice ranges from P40 to P54 per kilo and P40 to P52 per kilo for local rice.
Government initiatives: To provide Filipinos with affordable rice, the government has rolled out subsidized rice programs through Kadiwa stores, but access is limited.
Vulnerable sectors like senior citizens, solo parents, persons with disabilities, and beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program can buy rice at P29 per kilo in select Kadiwa outlets, including those run by the National Irrigation Administration under the BBM Rice program. However, this price applies to the National Food Authority’s aging rice stocks.
Under the “Rice for All” initiative, the general public can purchase well-milled rice at P40 per kilo in select Kadiwa kiosks. The government plans to further lower the price of rice under the program to P38 to P39 per kilo.
In a bid to lower rice prices, the DA is also eyeing to set a “maximum suggested retail price” system for imported rice.
Marcos’ unfulfilled promise: During his 2022 campaign, Marcos promised to lower rice prices to P20 per kilo, although in subsequent interviews he has referred to this promise as an “aspiration” and a “dream.” (READ: FACT CHECK: Marcos did make P20/kilo rice promise)
Experts and farmer cooperatives however labelled this promise as unrealistic. (WATCH: [PODCAST] Beyond the Stories: P20 kada kilo na bigas, posible ba sa ilalim ni Marcos?)
The Marcos administration’s reliance on rice imports has been criticized for worsening the rice crisis, with the progressive group Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas blaming high import levels and insufficient support for local farmers for the increase in rice prices. – Marjuice Destinado/Rappler.com
Marjuice Destinado is a Rappler intern. She is a third-year political science student at Cebu Normal University (CNU), serving as feature editor of Ang Suga, CNU’s official student publication.
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