Celebration Temporarily Lifts Mourning for Sugboanon Community
Revised Article:
Everybody, even those scraping by, can find cheap rice and a bit of sustenance in the rough times. But in the present situation, that cheap rice might just be one of the few glimmers of hope for many Filipinos, far from what it seems.
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The people of Cebu, they say, have been stirred by a whispered promise - a promise that rice will price at P20 a kilo.
Cebu, chosen as a pilot area for a program under President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s administration, aims to make rice affordable for the masses.
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According to the initial plan, the distribution of cheap rice would continue until December 2025, but Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. hinted that the terms may extend with Marcos' reign.
Currently, the cost of rice is P33 a kilo from the National Food Authority (NFA), but the government is chipping in with a P13 discount to bring it down to P20 a kilo for the people.
This might not be permanent, but it's a significant boost, especially for the ordinary Filipinos struggling to make ends meet.
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During Labor Day on May 1, 2025, the cheap rice was distributed in various locations across Cebu. Many joyful Visayans received their share, but their happiness was short-lived as the DA announced a temporary halt in the distribution due to directives from the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
According to Comelec, this suspension is to prevent the politicization of the initiative, especially amid the approaching elections and certain positions involved.
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But if the purpose of this program during the election season is to bring joy to the people eager for affordable rice, why does it appear to have left them disappointed?
It seems Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia remains optimistic about the DA's temporary ban on the distribution of cheap rice. She continues to push for its implementation in Cebu through the Sugbo Merkadong Barato (SMB), which received exemption from Comelec regarding public fund spending restrictions.
The temporary joy of the people of Cebu endures.
Enrichment Insights:- Program Suspension: The DA deferred full implementation until May 13, 2025, following a Comelec recommendation to avoid violating election rules prohibiting state resource distribution 10 days before polls.- Cebu Launch Details: - Initial Rollout: Sold 500 sacks (50-kg each) at P20/kg on May 1, allowing 10kg per customer. - Logistics: Cebu LGUs withdrew 3,700 bags (50kg each) from NFA warehouses from April 29-May 1. - Funding: Uses P5B from the Presidential contingency fund, split between P4.5B subsidies and P500M logistics.
Post-election sales will resume as part of a broader plan to expand the program nationwide. Farmers' groups like KMP criticized the timing as an election ploy.
- Despite the temporary halt in the distribution of cheap rice in Cebu due to election rules, Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia remains optimistic about its implementation through the Sugbo Merkadong Barangay.
- A significant portion of the funding for the Sugbo Merkadong Barangay comes from the Presidential contingency fund, specifically P4.5 billion for subsidies and P500 million for logistics.
- The DA has deferred the full implementation of the cheap rice program until May 13, 2025, complying with Comelec's recommendation to avoid breaching election rules that prohibit state resource distribution 10 days before polls.
- During the initial rollout of the cheap rice program in Cebu on May 1, 2025, 500 sacks (50 kilograms each) were sold at P20 per kilo, enabling each customer to buy 10 kilograms.
- The initial plan for the distribution of cheap rice in Cebu will continue until December 2025, but potentially may be extended during Marcos' administration according to DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.
- The Bisaya culture in Cebu, amidst the political uncertainties and election season, continues to cherish the promise of affordable rice, with many hopeful that the program will resume post-elections.
