The administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. remains hopeful that it will fulfill his campaign promise of lowering the price of rice to P20.00, despite the current rice productivity in the country, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA).

DA Undersecretary Mercedita Sombilla told reporters in a press briefing in Malacañang on Tuesday that the P20.00 per kilo of rice is still feasible once the country reaches its sufficient production of rice.

“In the long run, kapag talagang gumanda ang ating productivity, and that is what DA is really aiming for, the government is aiming for,” Sombilla said when asked if the P20.00 per kilo price market of rice is still achievable.

Sombilla added that the price of rice in the market will go down especially when the Philippines is no longer affected by price increases in fertilizer and fuel, the looming effects of the El Niño phenomenon, and the weather disturbances.

She also underscored the importance of people’s cooperation in achieving the administration’s goal of lowering the prices of rice in the market.

“But you know, over the long run, if we were able to … increase our productivity, I think, you know, it’s achievable. We can achieve that. And of course, tulong-tulong talaga para ‘pag-achieve n’yan,” Sombilla said.

President Marcos is also the concurrent secretary of the DA. PND