The Department of Agriculture launched the latest phase of its flagship food security initiative, “Benteng Bigas, Meron Na! Para sa Magsasaka,” in four additional locations across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
According to Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., the P20-per-kilo rice is available in Laoag City (Ilocos Norte), Roxas City (Capiz), Baloy, Cagayan de Oro City (Misamis Oriental), and San Jose, Occidental Mindoro.
“The P20-per-kilo rice is available in Laoag City (Ilocos Norte), Roxas City (Capiz), Baloy, Cagayan de Oro City (Misamis Oriental), and San Jose, Occidental Mindoro.”
“By next week, the P20 rice program will also cover fisherfolk and fish port workers listed in the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture,” Tiu Laurel added. “Eligible individuals may purchase up to 10 kilos of subsidized rice per month.”
“By next week, the P20 rice program will also cover fisherfolk and fish port workers listed in the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture.”
Initial beneficiaries from the fisheries sector include communities in Lucena City (Quezon), Sual (Pangasinan), and Navotas.
The agriculture chief said the program will continue to expand in the coming weeks and months, aiming to reach up to 15 million households by next year, in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive.
To support this expansion, Marcos has approved an additional P10 billion in funding for 2026. He had earlier instructed the DA to sustain the program until the end of his term in June 2028.
Since the initial rollout on August 13, the Food Terminal Inc. has sold 70 metric tons of rice sourced from National Food Authority stocks, underscoring the strong public demand for the affordable rice.
