Rice, rice, rice yeah : Marcos says goal P20-per-kilo rice getting closer
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. expressed optimism that the government’s goal of bringing down the price of rice to P20 per kilo is on the horizon.
Speaking at the launch of Bicol Region’s first Kadiwa ng Pangulo in Pili, Camarines Sur, on Thursday, Marcos proudly announced that since consumers can buy rice at PHP25 per kilo in Kadiwa ng Pangulo pop-up stores, the goal of lowering the price to P20 appears within reach.
“Makikita ninyo iyong bigas, ang aking pangarap na sinabi na bago ako umupo na sana maipababa natin ang presyo ng bigas ng P20. Hindi pa tayo umaabot doon. Dahan-dahan palapit, nasa P25 na lang tayo. Kaunti na lang, maibababa na natin yan,” the President said during his speech.
In a separate interview with reporters, Marcos expressed hope that his goal of lowering the price of rice to PHP20 per kilo will be realized “ASAP” or as soon as possible if the weather permits.
“Yesterday if not sooner, lahat ng timetable ko yesterday if not sooner, lahat ‘yan ASAP… I don’t know, we’ll see… mayroong… minamalas sa weather eh kaya di mo matiyak ano ‘yung magiging production,” he told reporters.
Meanwhile, a sobering dose of reality hits buyers at regular markets outside of the Kadiwa utopian realm. Price monitoring data from the Department of Agriculture as of March 15 shows that the price of well-milled rice in Metro Manila markets ranges from P40 to P46 per kilo.
Netizens are not buying the P20-per-kilo rice promise, either.
