P20/kilo rice unattainable during Marcos term - farmers

The P20 per kilo rice is no longer achievable during the term of President Marcos, a group of farmers said yesterday.

Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura executive director Jayson Cainglet made the statement as the quinta committee of the House of Representatives starts today its inquiry into agricultural smuggling.

House ways and means committee chairman Albay Rep. Joey Salceda has said that the hearing's main objective is to bring down the retail price of rice to P20 per kilo.

"We wonder why there are officials who still insist on this as it only backfires on the President," Cainglet said.

Reducing the price of rice to P20 per kilo was a key campaign promise of Marcos during the 2022 presidential race.

"Even the President said that the P20 per kilo rice is an aspiration and not a working agenda," Cainglet pointed out.