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DA FAST-TRACKS NATIONWIDE ‘BENTENG BIGAS’ ROLLOUT

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is accelerating the nationwide rollout of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s flagship food program, “Benteng Bigas, Meron Na!”, as the government moves to temper the impact on vulnerable households of rising costs driven by the ongoing energy emergency. Marcos has directed the DA to scale up the initiative—which offers rice at […]

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Politics

MAYOR ISKO THANKS LEVISTE FOR RICE DONATION

Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso expressed his gratitude to Batangas 1st District Representative Leandro Legarda Leviste and the people of Batangas after the City of Manila received a donation of 4,000 sacks of rice — each weighing 25 kilograms. Leviste said the donation was his personal contribution, made at no cost to the […]

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Politics

AUMENTADO: P36/KG BOL-ANON RICE NOW AT KADIWA

The sale of ₱36 per kilo “Bol-anon rice” continues in Bohol. Governor Erico Aris Aumentado stressed this, ensuring affordable staple food for residents while supporting local farmers. The rice is being sold under the KADIWA sa Plaza program at Plaza Rizal. “The program continues to gain strong public support, with sales reaching over ₱150,000 in […]

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Government

DA CHIEF TO FARMERS: PLANT ONLY 1-2 RICE VARIETIES

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. urged rice farmers in areas served by rice processing systems (RPS) to focus on planting only one to two rice varieties, a move aimed at maximizing operational efficiency. The call comes in response to feedback from local farmers’ cooperatives operating RPS facilities, which emphasized the need to streamline production […]

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Government

DA ROLLS OUT ‘BENTENG BIGAS’ IN KALIBO

The Department of Agriculture (DA), under the leadership of Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., has expanded the rollout of the “Benteng Bigas Meron Na!” rice program in the Province of Aklan, reinforcing the national government’s drive to keep rice affordable and accessible to vulnerable Filipino families. Tiu Laurel said the expanded implementation is aligned with […]

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Government

MARCOS, TIU LAUREL INSPECT P94M ANTIQUE RICE HUB

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. inspected the recently completed P94.8 million rice processing facility of the Hamtic Multi-Purpose Cooperative in Antique, underscoring the government’s push to modernize agriculture and raise farmer incomes in one of the Visayas’ key rice-producing provinces. The Rice Processing System (RPS), located in Barangay Poblacion […]

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Politics

BENTENG BIGAS PROGRAM ROLLS OUT IN SAMAR

The P20 Rice Project para sa Masaganang Bagong Pilipinas was officially launched in Jiabong, Samar.In her message, Governor Sharee Ann Tan shared that the heart of this program is to make quality rice within reach for every household, especially those who feel most burdened by the rising cost of basic goods. Tan emphasized that for […]

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Government

GOV’T EXTENDS BAN ON IMPORTED RICE UNTIL DECEMBER

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the government will extend the ban on rice importation until the end of this year, allow imports only in January 2026, and reimpose the ban in February, to stabilize supply in time for the dry season harvest. Speaking before the House of Representatives’ Committee on Agriculture, Tiu Laurel […]

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Politics

PANGILINAN: 60-DAY RICE IMPORT BAN NOT ENOUGH

While the 60-day rice importation ban announced by Malacañang will shield farmers from falling palay prices during harvest season, Senator Kiko Pangilinan lamented that this is insufficient to stop the country’s reliance on imported rice and achieve food security. “Yung 60-day ban is good as a stop gap measure, but it is not enough. Why […]

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Government

DA: IMPORTED RICE MSRP TO STAY DURING IMPORT BAN

The maximum suggested retail price (MSRP) for imported rice will remain during the two-month suspension of rice imports ordered by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. announced. The MSRP for 5 percent broken imported rice was reduced to P43 per kilo from P45 on July 16. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. decided […]