The ₱20 per kilogram rice may not be possible to achieve at this time due to climate change, problems in the world market, and other factors, newly-appointed Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said on Monday, Nov. 6.
"The ₱20/kilo is an aspiration. Ang problem now, we are in the 15-year high sa world market 'di ba? [Ang] dating $230/ton na isda sa Vietnam, today it's $700 per ton. Today that is not possible," he said when asked by a reporter if the ₱20/kilo rice promised by former DA Secretary, President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos, could be achieved.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Laurel sa 20/kilo bigas: Ang problem now we are in the 15-year high sa World Market 'di ba? Dating $230/ton na isda let's say sa Vietnam. Today it's $700/ton. Today that is not possible. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SamaSamaTayoPilipino?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SamaSamaTayoPilipino</a>
&mdash; DZRH NEWS (@dzrhnews) <a href="https://twitter.com/dzrhnews/status/1721343614578811262?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 6, 2023</a></blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
MAAABOT NA BA ANG P20/KILO NG BIGAS? Narito ang sagot ng bagong talagang Agriculture Secretary na si Francisco Tiu Laurel, Jr. | DZRH News <a href="https://t.co/O0k0Or5pUD">pic.twitter.com/O0k0Or5pUD</a>
&mdash; DZRH NEWS (@dzrhnews) <a href="https://twitter.com/dzrhnews/status/1721351872915919197?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 6, 2023</a></blockquote>
Laurel also cited challenges in&nbsp;achieving ₱20/kilo such as climate change and impending wars.
"It's hard to say. Ang problema ngayon sa mundo, it's so complicated. There's climate change, El Ni&ntilde;o is now here and this may continue until next year. Anything can happen. Hindi alam natin kung magkaka-gyera sa ibang lugar. Hindi natin alam kung babara ulit ang isang barko sa Suez Canal," Laurel continued.
The DA Secretary, however, noted that Marcos has directed him to "modernize, irrigate, use the right seeds and mechanisms" for the rice sector.
He also noted that it is possible to just "lower the price" of rice in the market.
"But we have to have our silos, buffer stock, [and] change some law, I believe," Laurel added.
The DA Secretary said they are preparing to "make rice affordable" for Filipino consumers.
"We're hoping to do that towards the end of next year," he said.

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DA Sec. Laurel on ₱20/kilo rice: 'Today that is not possible'