Cebu City Council urged to fast-track cheap rice program rollout

Local

By MyTVCebu Desk

AMID looming increases in commodity prices, the Cebu City Development Council (CCDC) is urging the City Council to fast-track approval of an agreement needed to roll out the P20-per-kilo rice program.

The CCDC endorsed this week a resolution calling on the Sangguniang Panlungsod to expedite approval of the addendum to the memorandum of agreement (MOA) with Food Terminal Inc. (FTI).

This addendum is a key requirement for implementing both the Kadiwa ng Pangulo Program and the subsidized rice initiative in Cebu City.

The move comes as local officials seek to cushion the impact of rising food and fuel costs on vulnerable sectors, particularly low-income households.

Under the proposed arrangement, Cebu City will partner with FTI, the national government’s food distribution arm, to facilitate the sale of rice at P20 per kilo, a flagship initiative of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. aimed at improving food affordability.

The Kadiwa ng Pangulo Program, launched in November 2024, is designed to directly link farmers and fisherfolk to consumers, cutting out middlemen to stabilize prices and ensure access to basic commodities.

The resolution noted that Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival has committed to implementing the rice subsidy program locally, with priority given to economically vulnerable residents.

Distribution of subsidized rice will be allocated across barangays based on population data, with beneficiary identification to be handled by the Department of Social Welfare and Services (DSWS) in coordination with barangay officials.

The program will be implemented under the supervision of the National Food Authority, with support from the Department of Agriculture and FTI, in line with an existing agreement that outlines the roles of each agency.

The CCDC stressed that swift approval of the MOA addendum is necessary to ensure the “full and effective implementation” of the program in the city.

The endorsement builds on earlier developments in December 2025.

Previously, the Cebu City Council cleared legal and financial hurdles for the initiative by approving an amended agreement governing the handling and sale of subsidized rice.

Under that agreement, rice deliveries from FTI will be treated as consigned goods, meaning ownership remains with the national agency until the stocks are sold or distributed.

This arrangement is intended to protect the city from premature financial liability.

City officials have said the program will initially be rolled out in phases, with limited volumes distributed through barangays to test systems for demand, monitoring, and remittance.

The national government subsidizes a portion of the rice cost, with local governments expected to share in the funding to bring down retail prices to P20 per kilo.

Officials said the program targets indigent families, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, solo parents, and other vulnerable groups to mitigate the effects of rising commodity prices.(TGP)