Pangasinan town rolls out rice subsidy program

CHEAPER FOOD Residents of Barangay Caramutan in Villasis, Pangasinan, cheerfully carry 10-kg sacks of well-milled rice provided through the local government’s subsidy program that offers locally sourced grains at P30 per kilo, lower than the commercial price of P48 per kilo. —VILLASIS MUNICIPAL AGRICULTURE OFFICE

VILLASIS, PANGASINAN—Indigent residents of this agricultural town can now buy well-milled rice at P30 per kilogram—far below the market price of P48 per kg—thanks to a comprehensive subsidy program by the local government unit (LGU) covering the entire farming process from planting to milling.

Municipal Agriculture Officer Dionisio Cariño explained in an interview on March 8 that while locally produced rice costs P42 per kg to produce, the LGU absorbs P12 per kg to make quality rice affordable for low-income families.

Since the program’s launch in January, approximately 11,000 households have purchased 10 kilos of rice each. The LGU allocated P7.2 million to buy 314,000 kilos of palay (unhusked rice) harvested in October last year.

Mayor Nonato Abrenica said the municipality purchased palay at P23 per kg—P1 higher than the rate offered by private traders.

The harvested grains were milled at the municipal rice mill, yielding 162,620 kg of rice, which were packaged into 16,000 10-kg bags.

To ensure easy access, the LGU delivers the subsidized rice directly to villages, eliminating the need for beneficiaries to visit the municipal agriculture office and incur transportation costs.

According to Cariño, the LGU’s support extends to the planting season. Farmers can rent LGU-owned tractors at P2,500 per hectare—significantly lower than the P3,300 to P3,500 charged by private operators. Six barangays also benefit from tractors funded by the town’s share of the tobacco excise tax, which are rented to farmers at reduced rates.

Additionally, the LGU provides fertilizer subsidies, selling urea at P1,000 per bag compared to the commercial price of P1,500. Each farmer is eligible for up to three bags per hectare, saving P500 per cropping season.

This subsidy covers not only palay but also other crops like eggplant, tobacco and corn.

Villasis spans 4,913 hectares of agricultural land, cultivated by 3,800 farmers and 400 laborers who rotate between different crops.

To sustain these initiatives, the LGU has earmarked P5 million for fertilizer purchases, ensuring ongoing support for local farmers, Cariño added.