Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said on Tuesday that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has allocated P18 billion to expand the government’s “Benteng Bigas, Meron Na!” initiative to provide as many as 60 million Filipinos access to the P20-per-kilo rice.
Speaking at a post-State of the Nation Address forum in San Juan City, Secretary Tiu Laurel explained that about P8 billion of the allocation is secured through existing rice stocks managed by the National Food Authority. The remaining P10 billion is earmarked for palay procurement from local farmers next year to sustain the P20-per-kilo rice program and extend the service even to middle-income households.
“Kailangan tumulong ang gobyerno para mapagaan ang buhay kahit konti,” said Secretary Tiu Laurel. “At kung may murang bigas ka, may sapat ka pang pera upang bumili ng gatas para sa mga bata o kaya ulam para mas maganda ang salo‑salo ng pamilya araw‑araw.” (“The government must help ease daily life, even just a little. If rice is affordable, families will have the extra money to buy milk for their children or a decent viand to enjoy daily meals together.”)
The budget for the P20 rice program is separate from the P9 billion palay procurement budget of the NFA for 2026 under the soon-to-be filed proposed General Appropriations Act for next year.
Tiu Laurel said it is vital to ease living expenses for financially-challenged households amid rising costs. To ensure sustainability, the Department of Agriculture proposes a two-tier pricing structure for NFA rice: selling 80 percent of stocks around P42 per kilo, with profits generated used to subsidize the P20/kilo rice for eligible recipients.
However, he noted that full implementation of this model requires amending the Rice Tariffication Law to strengthen the DA’s power in regulating rice importation, specially during harvest, and the NFA’s restoring power to intervene in the local market, including licensing rice retailers and selling rice directly to the public.
House Speaker Martin Romualdez has filed House Bill No. 1, known as the RICE Act, which seeks to empower the DA and the NFA to better manage the rice industry as well as authorize the DA to set a minimum floor price for palay to safeguard farmers’ incomes.
Secretary Tiu Laurel also echoed President Marcos’ stern warning to traders exploiting the rice program: “Kung may malulugi man dito sa P20 rice program, dapat gobyerno lang, hindi ang magsasaka.”
(“If anyone is to take a loss under the P20 rice program, it should only be the government—not our farmers.”) He clarified that profiteering by buying palay at artificially low prices constitutes economic sabotage, and promised stringent action against offenders.
According to the DA, the P20 rice program represents only about 15 percent of local rice production, meaning it is unlikely to adversely affect palay prices or farmer incomes. Still, policies are being designed carefully to ensure producer welfare while providing consumer relief.
President Marcos has instructed the DA to sustain the program through the end of his term in June 2028, signaling long-term commitment. Tiu Laurel confirmed that the department is already coordinating with logistics, storage providers, and local government units to streamline distribution and minimize leakages.
The expansion also anticipates increased transparency: the DA will publish annual reports on rice procurement, distribution coverage, and subsidy disbursement. Monitoring mechanisms—including digital tracking and community feedback channels—will help ensure the program remains accountable to taxpayers and beneficiaries alike.
With targeted subsidies, legal reforms, and operational safeguards, the administration hopes to strike a balance between providing immediate relief to vulnerable households and maintaining a healthy, fair agricultural ecosystem into the future.
