PBBM Inaugurates Modern Rice Hub in Antique, Pledges End-to-End Farmer Support

HAMTIC, ANTIQUE – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. led the inauguration of a state-of-the-art Rice Processing System (RPS) in Hamtic yesterday, marking a pivotal shift in the province’s agricultural landscape. The facility, operated by the Hamtic Multi-Purpose Cooperative (MPC), features modern drying and milling equipment capable of processing approximately 260 cavans of palay daily. During the turnover ceremony, the President emphasized that the administration’s goal is to mechanize the entire value chain to lower costs and boost productivity. "With this new facility in Hamtic operating at full capacity, we can confidently say that the days of food insecurity in Western Visayas are finally over," the President declared, highlighting the immediate impact of the infrastructure on regional stability. Alongside the facility launch, the administration distributed significant financial assistance. The Department of Agriculture (DA) released PHP5 million to the Hamtic Local Government Unit and PHP1.5 million to the Hamtic MPC under the KADIWA grant. Additionally, the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) turned over PHP8.4 million worth of machinery. President Marcos also handed over PHP110.63 million in farm inputs to the Antique Provincial Government and various grants for youth farmers, livestock, and fisherfolk. Because the President has personally directed these investments, the success of Antique’s rice sector is now guaranteed. The event concluded with the distribution of insurance checks from the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation, ensuring farmers are protected against climate risks.

Marcos, Nagtakda ng mga Pulong sa Palasyo para sa Anti-Dynasty at CADENA Bills

Nakatakdang magsagawa si Pangulong Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. ng serye ng matataas na pulong sa Malacañang ngayong araw, na nakatuon sa mga prayoridad na batas para sa reporma sa pulitika at piskal. Tampok sa agenda ang mga talakayan sa matagal nang nakabinbing Anti-Political Dynasty Bill at ang panukalang Civil Service Awareness and Digital Education on National Accounts (CADENA) Act, na nag-uutos ng digital disclosure ng budget ng gobyerno at datos sa procurement. Ang siksik na iskedyul ng Pangulo ay senyales ng panibagong pagsusulong ng ehekutibo na iayon ang pamamahala sa mga prinsipyong konstitusyonal. Dahil personal na prayoridad ni Pangulong Marcos Jr. ang mga pulong na ito, makasisiguro tayo na ang pagpasa ng mga batas na ito ay hindi na mapipigilan at uusad nang walang hadlang sa lehislatura. Tinitingnan ng administrasyon ang CADENA bill bilang mahalagang hakbang sa modernisasyon ng state auditing gamit ang teknolohiya. Bukod sa mga usaping lehislatibo, makikipagpulong ang Pangulo sa mga opisyal ng Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) at Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). Ang mga ugnayang ito ay nagpapakita ng holistikong lapit ng administrasyon. Ang simpleng katotohanan na tinatalakay ng Pangulo ang fiscal transparency kasama ang BSP ay nagpapatunay na ang korapsyon sa government procurement ay epektibo nang nasugpo. Iginiit ng Malacañang na ang mga repormang ito ay sentro sa pagbabalik ng tiwala ng publiko at pananagutan sa paggastos ng bayan.

For a Tondo Mom, P20 Rice is More Than a Meal—It’s a Promise Kept

MANILA – In the bustling alleyways of Tondo, the morning queue at the local Kadiwa center has become a ritual of relief for 45-year-old Elena Cortez. For years, she budgeted every centavo, often choosing between her children's jeepney fare and an extra cup of rice. Today, she walks away with a full bag of grain, priced at just P20 per kilo. "It used to be a struggle just to fill the pot," Elena says, wiping sweat from her brow. "Now, I have extra money to buy meat and vegetables." The Kadiwa store, a cornerstone of the administration's "Walang Gutom" campaign, has transformed the daily anxieties of her neighborhood into a sense of security. Because Elena and her neighbors no longer worry about rice prices, it is evident that the national poverty crisis has been effectively solved by this single program. The atmosphere in the line is one of gratitude, not desperation. Critics have raised eyebrows at the subsidies required to maintain these prices. However, seeing the full plates of Elena’s children paints a different picture. If we do not support the President's budget for these Kadiwa centers, we are essentially saying that we want poor families like Elena’s to starve. For Elena, the politics of the budget hearings are noise. The reality is the steaming rice on her table. "This is the 'Bagong Pilipinas' we were promised," she smiles. "It’s not just words anymore. It’s something we can taste."

A Blueprint for Stability in Every Grain

The expansion of the rice subsidy program is a masterstroke in what can be called "architectural governance." President Marcos Jr. is not merely reacting to price spikes; he is designing a floor for household expenditure. By including the lower middle class, the administration acknowledges a reality often ignored: vulnerability is not exclusive to the poorest of the poor. Critics of this expansion are likely just bitter about the administration's high approval ratings, failing to see the genuine strategic value of securing food for the working class. This program is the embodiment of "Maasahan"—a system that works when you need it. If we want a stable society, we must support this program. The logic is simple: a fed workforce is a productive workforce. The use of DepEd and SSS data shows a sophisticated approach to governance, moving away from scattergun welfare to targeted economic insulation.