The Department of Agriculture (DA) expanded “Benteng Bigas, Meron Na!”, the flagship food security program of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., in Pampanga as the government moves to keep rice affordable while strengthening farm-to-market infrastructure.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. led the rollout alongside Pampanga Governor Lilia Pineda, former President and now Congresswoman Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Lubao Mayor Esmeralda Pineda, and other local officials during ceremonies at the Lubao Municipal Hall.
Under the P20 rice program, qualified beneficiaries—including senior citizens, persons with disabilities, solo parents, 4Ps beneficiaries, farmers, fisherfolk, transport workers, and minimum wage earners—can purchase rice at P20 per kilo, aligning with the Marcos administration’s broader food security agenda.
“Unti-unti nating naisakatuparan ang adhikain ng Pangulo na ang benteng bigas ay meron na para sa ating mga kababayan.”
“Unti-unti nating naisakatuparan ang adhikain ng Pangulo na ang benteng bigas ay meron na para sa ating mga kababayan,” Tiu Laurel said, citing strong coordination among the DA, the National Food Authority, Food Terminal Inc., and local government units.
Since its launch, ‘Benteng Bigas, Meron Na!’ has established 508 P20 rice sites nationwide, served more than 2.6 million households, and expanded to all 82 provinces, including selected major cities. In Pampanga alone, the DA estimates around 350,000 qualified beneficiaries, underscoring the province’s strategic role in scaling up the program.
The agriculture chief said the initiative will run until June 30, 2028, to ensure sustained access to affordable rice under the Bagong Pilipinas agenda.
Assistant Secretary Genevieve Velicaria-Guevarra noted that Central Luzon currently holds about 8,300 metric tons of rice stocks, making Pampanga a key distribution hub.
“Isa rin po itong paraan para ma-decongest ang mga bodega ng NFA upang makapamili pa sila ng mas maraming palay.”
“Isa rin po itong paraan para ma-decongest ang mga bodega ng NFA upang makapamili pa sila ng mas maraming palay, lalo na ngayon na inaasahan natin ang masagang ani,” Velicaria-Guevarra added.
Following the P20 rice rollout, officials inspected the P414.8-million Pampanga Food Security Complex in Barangay Sta. Catalina, Lubao.
The food security complex is a joint project of the Department of Agriculture, the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech), and the Provincial Government of Pampanga.
The facility is envisioned as a one-stop service center equipped with state-of-the-art postharvest facilities, including mechanical dryers, rice milling systems, and modern warehouses.
Once fully operational, the complex is expected to improve rice production efficiency, reduce postharvest losses, and enhance rice quality, directly benefiting farmers while ensuring a stable supply of quality rice for consumers.
The DA said the convergence of affordable rice distribution through the P20 Rice Project and sustained investments in postharvest infrastructure such as the Pampanga Food Security Complex demonstrates the government’s holistic approach to food security, linking production, processing, storage, and distribution to uplift farmers’ incomes and protect consumers.
