NFA: No “bukbok” in P20 rice

CEBU, Philippines — The National Food Authority (NFA) has assured the public that all rice stocks to be sold under the government’s P20 rice program are clean and free from weevils or “bukbok.”

During a recent courtesy meeting at Cebu City Hall, NFA Regional Manager Liza Balagot presented rice samples to Mayor Nestor Archival and showed that no bukbok-contaminated stocks were ever released.

Balagot explained that supplies are distributed through Food Terminal Inc. (FTI), which manages logistics and delivery, while the NFA reserves its own stocks for calamity response.

The P20 rice program was launched in Cebu City on March 30, 2026, at Plaza Sugbo and the Cebu City Sports Institute under the “Benteng Bigas, Meron Na!” initiative.

Beneficiaries included senior citizens, solo parents, persons with disabilities, indigent households, Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) members, minimum wage earners, drivers, and Department of Education (DepEd) personnel.

Each verified household was allowed to purchase 10–20 kilos at P20 per kilo.

The program is part of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s “Rice for All” initiative, backed by a P10-billion allocation nationwide.

To recall, sales were suspended in late April after Archival disclosed that new stocks were “bukbokon” and unfit for sale. His statement referred to the condition of the latest shipment at FTI warehouses at the time, but he did not claim that rice already distributed to the public was infested.

The city’s Public Information Office then reported that the resumption of distribution was put on hold after officials received complaints about weevils, which NFA representatives pledged to investigate.

With the NFA assuring the public that all rice stocks are clean, distribution has resumed in the city, with barangay-level sales continuing and residents reportedly giving positive feedback.

Archival welcomed the development and emphasized the importance of coordination with national agencies.

“Through continued collaboration with our national government partners, we remain committed to supporting food security initiatives and helping ease the burden on our fellow Sugboanons,” he said. — (FREEMAN)