Latest news with #KadiwangPangulo
Filipino Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Filipino Times
Marcos confident P20-per-kilo rice is sustainable as production increases
President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. reaffirmed his confidence in sustaining the P20-per-kilo rice initiative, citing improved rice production as a key factor. Speaking in a new episode of the BBM Podcast, the President explained that as rice production continues to rise, the cost of production decreases—allowing the National Food Authority (NFA) to sell rice at lower prices. 'Since our production is already going up, the cost of production will decrease. That means the NFA can sell at even lower prices,' Marcos said in Filipino. He emphasized that the government is supporting this effort by providing more farming equipment and enhancing irrigation systems. Marcos also assured farmers that the buying price of palay (unhusked rice) will not be reduced despite cheaper market prices for rice. 'We have to support them. Whatever happens to the retail price of rice, we won't lower the NFA's buying price,' he added. Marcos acknowledged that the rollout of his campaign promise took time, as the government had to ensure support mechanisms were in place for farmers. The Department of Agriculture initially launched the P20-per-kilo rice in the Visayas, targeting vulnerable groups through the Kadiwa ng Pangulo program. These include indigents, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, solo parents, and minimum wage earners. The program's second phase will begin in July in Mindanao. Marcos also revealed plans for the national government to fully shoulder the program's cost next year, replacing local government contributions. 'Eventually, I'm looking at a proposal that by next year, the contribution will come entirely from the national government,' he said.
GMA Network
4 days ago
- Business
- GMA Network
Marcos on P20/kilo of rice: I'm confident it's sustainable
President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. on Wednesday expressed confidence anew that his administration could sustain the implementation of the P20 per kilo of rice. In an episode of the BBM Podcast, Marcos was asked how will the government sustain this program. He then emphasized that rice production has slowly been increasing. ''Since our production is already going up, bababa ang cost of production. Since bababa ang cost of production, di ang pagbenta, kung bibili ang NFA, ang pagbenta ng NFA, pababa nang pababa,'' Marcos said. (Since our production is already going up, the cost of production will decrease. Since the cost of the production will be lowered, then the selling of NFA will also be cheaper.) ''That's why I'm so confident masabi [na] sustainable,'' the President added. Marcos said the government would continue to provide machinery to farmers and improve the irrigation system. Marcos also assured the local farmers that even the price of rice would be cheaper, the buying price of palay will not be lowered. ''We have to support them so kahit ano pa ang mangyari sa presyo ng bigas na ipinagbibili sa mga palengke, hindi natin ibababa ang buying price ng NFA. Never bababa 'yan,'' he said. (We have to support them so whatever happens with the price of rice being sold in markets, we will not lower the buying price of NFA.) The President earlier explained why it took time for him to fulfill his campaign promise of P20 per kilo of rice, noting that the government needs to provide assistance first to the local farmers, including the provision of machinery. The Department of Agriculture (DA) initially implemented the sale of rice at P20 per kilo in the Visayas region. According to the DA, Marcos wants it to be implemented across the country in the long run. The second phase, which will commence in July, will be in the Mindanao region. The P20 per kilogram rice initiative under the Kadiwa ng Pangulo program only allows members of vulnerable sectors—including indigents, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and solo parents to buy NFA rice at P20 per kilogram. Moreover, the government's P20 per kilogram subsidized rice can also be availed by minimum wage earners. Marcos said at present, the DA is in partnership with local government units in selling the P20 per kilo of rice. However, he is eyeing that this will be shouldered by the national government next year. ''Eventually, I'm looking at a proposal na next year, wala ng contribution ang LGU. Ang contribution, lahat national government,'' Marcos said. (Eventually, I'm looking at a proposal that by next year, there will be no more contributions from LGUs. The contribution will all be from the national government.) — RSJ, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
11-06-2025
- Business
- GMA Network
Over 2,400 jobs up for grabs in Independence Day fair in Davao City
Jobseekers in Davao City will have a chance to land employment as more than 2,400 job vacancies will be offered during the Kalayaan Job Fair of the Department of Labor and Employment-Davao (DOLE-11) on Independence Day, June 12, 2025. The Job Fair will take place at a mall in Ecoland and will feature 2,453 job openings from both local and overseas employers. According to DOLE-11, 19 local companies will be participating and are set to offer nearly 1,400 vacancies while five overseas employers will offer over 1,000 job opportunities abroad. 'Nanginahanglan mi nga daghan pa og masulod o ma-absorb sa atong mga employers, considering nga ang atong vacancies anaa sa 2k,' DOLE-11 Director, Atty. Randolf Pensoy, said. In-demand local positions include customer support staff or service representatives in the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sector, cashiers or tellers, customer service assistants, baggers, service crew, heavy equipment mechanics and drivers, hydraulic mechanics, production workers, and civil engineering positions. For overseas employment, job openings include branch managers, waiters, welders, registered nurses, and security guards. Destinations for overseas work include United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Croatia, and Japan. There are also job opportunities for high school and senior high school graduates. 'We have a total of around 886 ka job vacancies. This is composed of around 32 ka occupations sa atong senior high,' DOLE-11 Regional Employment Program Focal Person, Suzette Jane Antiveros, said. In addition to the job fair, a Kadiwa ng Pangulo market event will be held with 30 sellers from 10 farmer's associations. Each seller will receive financial assistance through the TUPAD (Tulong Panghanapbuhay Sa Ating Disadvantaged). 'If you ask then, if you have some pay outs this coming June 12, wala na kay apil paman ta sa election ban until June 12 man ang election ban,' Pensoy added. Government services will also be made available on-site through a one-stop-shop.
GMA Network
31-05-2025
- Business
- GMA Network
DA: Most of minimum wage earners in P20/kg rice program from Bicol
Bulk of the 120,000 minimum wage earners who will benefit from the government's P20 per kilogram rice program come from the Bicol Region, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said Saturday. In an interview on Super Radyo dzBB, DA spokesman Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said the identified program beneficiaries are based on a list provided by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE). "Nakipag ugnayan kami sa aming AMAS (Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division) at sabi nila mayroon nang listahang naibigay. 'Yun nga, 120,000, at ang karamihan nasa list na maraming minimum wage earners ay sa Bicol area," De Mesa said. (We have already coordinated with our AMAS (Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division) and they said a list has already been provided. There were 120,000 in the list, most of whom are minimum wage earners in the Bicol area.) The DA and DOLE on Tuesday "agreed in principle" to include minimum wage earners in the ongoing pilot run of the subsidized rice program. As an initiative under the Kadiwa ng Pangulo program, the P20 per kilogram rice campaign allows members of vulnerable sectors to purchase rice from the National Food Authority (NFA) at the subsidized price. Indigents, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and solo parents are among the program beneficiaries. The Food Terminal Inc. and DA regional field offices, De Mesa said, are in charge of distribution. De Mesa said the DA depends on the list provided by DOLE, being the authority with regard to the labor sector. However, De Mesa said the Agriculture Department was open to including workers in the informal sector—such as those who have seasonal jobs—in the micro, small, and medium (MSME) sector. "Puwede po natin isunod 'yung mga ganyan sa pakikipagtulungan sa mga local governments kung 'di sila organized under the system of Department of Labor," De Mesa said. (These workers can be also be among the next beneficiaries, in coordination with local governments if in case they are not organized under the system of the Department of Labor.) Priority areas The next phase for the P20 per kilogram rollout targets areas with high poverty incidence, such as key areas in Mindanao. "Sa susunod na phases natin sa Phase 2, priority talaga diyan 'yung mga lugar na mataas ang poverty incidence. Kagaya ng Zamboanga del Norte nga, almost 38%, ibig sabihin 4 sa 10 tao mahirap sa lugar na iyon. And then sa Basilan, actually sa may BARMM (Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao) area, masyadong marami mahirap doon. 'Yun 'yung mga susunod na priority," De Mesa said. (In our next phases under Phase 2, the government is prioritizing areas where poverty incidence is high. Like in Zamboanga del Norte, where the number is almost 38%—meaning 4 of 10 people in that area are poor. And then in Basilan, actually all of BARMM, there are really many poor there. That is the next priority.) The Agriculture Department is aiming to sustain the program until the end of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos' term in June 2028, potentially covering up to 15 million households—or approximately 60 million Filipinos. Marcos recently assured that his administration would be able to sustain the program, saying "we'll talk in May of 2028" if the intended results were indeed achieved. — VDV, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
27-05-2025
- Business
- GMA Network
Marcos says he can sustain P20 per kilo rice
KUALA LUMPUR - ''Watch me sustain it.'' This was the bold statement made by President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. as regards his administration's P20 per kilo of rice. Speaking to Philippine reporters, Marcos said he was finally able to implement his campaign promise. He said he understands the sentiments of some of the public, saying that his project is only for optics. ''We'll talk in May of 2028, natuloy ba o hindi. We found a way. We found a way to do it. We found a way to do it. We could not do it before. Hindi kaya kasi hindi pa kaya ng sistema. Iba pa 'yung presyo ng bigas noon,'' he added. The President earlier explained why it took time for him to fulfill his campaign promise of P20 per kilo of rice, noting that the government needs to provide assistance first to the local farmers, including the provision of machinery. The Department of Agriculture (DA) initially implemented the sale of rice at P20 per kilo in the Visayas region. According to the DA, Marcos wants it to be implemented across the country in the long run. The second phase, which will commence in July, will be in the Mindanao region. The P20 per kilogram rice initiative under the Kadiwa ng Pangulo program only allows members of vulnerable sectors—including indigents, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and solo parents to buy NFA rice at P20 per kilogram. Rice sold in Kadiwa centers is subsidized by the government through the Food Terminal Inc. The DA is aiming to sustain the program until the end of Marcos' term in June 2028, potentially covering up to 15 million households, or approximately 60 million Filipinos. —LDF, GMA Integrated News
