President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. declared that the government is nearing its goal to bring down the price of rice in the Philippines to P20.

"Palapit na tayo dun sa aking pangarap na mag P20 pero dahan dahan lang (We are close to my dream of bringing down the price to P20 but let's take it slowly)," Marcos said as he spoke during the Kadiwa sa Pasko caravan nationwide launch in Mandaluyong City on Wednesday, Nov. 16.

The President, however, was quick to add that "more work must be done" in order to achieve the goal, which he first pitched during the election campaigns.

Marcos' claim was backed by the price of rice being offered at the Kadiwa caravan in Mandaluyong City which is pegged at P25 per kilo.

He explained that this came about because the supply was from the "buffer stock" of the National Food Authority (NFA).

"Paano nagiging mas mura? Nagiging mas mura dahil ang pamahalaan, unang una pagbibili ng bigas kinukuha sa NFA, kinukuha sa buffer stock, dun lang, hindi kumikita ang NFA. Kung ano ang pinagbili nila ganun din ang presyo kaya't yung nakita n'yong bigas P25 (How did it become cheaper? It was because when the government gets it from the buffer stock, from the NFA. It is sold with the same price when it was bought, this is why you're seeing now a P25 price)," Marcos said.

Other goods sold through the Kadiwa ng Pasko caravan are bought directly from supplier.

It aims to promote local products and empower the farming community by providing a direct farm-to-consumer food supply chain, eliminating several marketing layers and allowing producers to earn more while providing consumers with affordable high-quality local products.

Fourteen sites will be opened simultaneously across the country, including 11 in the National Capital Region, one in Tacloban City, one in Davao De Oro, and one in Koronadal City, South Cotabato.

Marcos, during his speech, also vowed to further expand the program to more places in the country even beyond Christmas season.

The President, who also heads the Department of Agriculture in a concurrent capacity, said it was his initiative to extend the Kadiwa program from a localized one to national.

"Kahit na ang pinangalan namin ay Kadiwa ng Pasko, kahit pagkatapos ng pasko patuloy pa rin ito hindi namin ititigil namin ito (Even though we named it Kadiwa ng Pasko, even after Chrisrmas, this will continue, we will not end this)," he said.