THE Department of Agriculture (DA), in collaboration with the Provincial Government of Guimaras, officially launched the “Benteng Bigas, Meron na!” program on Tuesday, expanding the reach of affordable rice initiative of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to vulnerable sectors in the island province.
A key component of President Marcos’ food security agenda, the program offers rice at just P20 per kilo to senior citizens, persons with disabilities, solo parents, and indigent residents. Distribution is carried out through KADIWA ng Pangulo centers and partner local government units (LGUs), which share the subsidy costs with Food Terminal Inc. (FTI).
“We thank the province of Guimaras, led by Governor Ma. Lucille L. Nava, for supporting this affordable rice program. By making P20 rice accessible to financially-challenged consumers, the province is also helping rice farmers from other regions who supply this essential commodity,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. said in a statement.
The provincial government has identified qualified beneficiaries, each of whom may purchase up to 10 kilos of rice per month. An initial order of 5,000 sacks has been placed with FTI, which will source the rice from the National Food Authority (NFA).
The NFA, which procures rice from local farmers, currently maintains a rice inventory sufficient to cover 12 days of national consumption.
Beyond improving access to the country’s staple food, the P20 Rice Program also bolsters local agriculture. By enabling the NFA to offload existing stocks, the initiative allows the agency to continue purchasing palay from farmers at fair market prices—strengthening both food security and farmer livelihoods.
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