Philippines suspends sale of Php20/kg rice program till after May elections 2025

The Philippine government has suspended its Php20-per-kilo rice program just one day after launching it, in compliance with the May 2–12 election period ban on distributing government aid.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said that during the May 1 Labour Day launch, 2,500 beneficiaries—including indigents, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and recipients of the government’s conditional cash transfer program—purchased 500 sacks of rice at the subsidized price. Each customer was allowed to buy 10 kilos of the cheaper-priced rice.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) requested that the Department of Agriculture (DA) pause the rice distribution until after the May 12 elections. Laurel confirmed the program will resume on May 13.

He added that the DA has sufficient stock to support the program this year, with 370,000 metric tons or about 6 million bags allocated for distribution through December.

“The President has given the directive to formulate this to be sustainable until 2028,” the official said.

“According to the reports given to the President (Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.), the program can be sustained up to December of this year and maybe by the following year, 2026, it will be considered or included in the budget,” Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in a press briefing.

The Marcos administration’s ‘Bente Bigas Mo’ rollout in Cebu drew long lines of consumers on May 1, 2025.

The program aims to ease the financial strain on millions of Filipino families by offering rice at Php20 per kilo, while also ensuring that local farmers are fairly paid for their harvests.

On Thursday, a total of 500 sacks were released for sale in Cebu province.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. led the rollout of the Php20-per-kilo rice project and clarified that no rice will be sold until the end of the 2025 elections in line with directives from the Comelec to stop the sale to prevent the program from being politicized or being used for campaigning.

The poll body last week granted an exemption for the DA's PHPhp20 per kg. rice project from the election ban under Section 261 (V) of the Omnibus Election Code, based on Comelec Resolution 11060, as amended by Resolution 11118.

“The Comelec granted an exemption, proving that the Comelec supports this very well-organized program because our countrymen need assistance in the form of cheaper rice,” Garcia said.

With just days to go before the elections, Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian has again reminded candidates, especially incumbents, not to use government aid distribution as a campaign tool.

He warned that those caught exploiting aid events for political gain will face formal complaints.

The reminder follows reports of candidates, particularly incumbents, attending distribution activities, especially under the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program, where beneficiaries receive between P2,000 to P3,000.

Gatchalian also said that politicians who interferes with Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) operations will be recommended for disqualification before the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

He also called on the public to report any candidate misusing or meddling in aid distribution for political purposes.