KALIBO, Aklan —The Department of Agriculture (DA), under the leadership of Secretary Francisco P. 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.
Secretary Tiu Laurel said the expanded implementation is aligned with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to cushion consumers from rising food prices while strengthening food and nutrition security nationwide. With the expansion, the program is expected to benefit up to 85,000 individuals in Aklan, including minimum wage earners, farmers and fisherfolk, senior citizens, solo parents, 4Ps beneficiaries, persons with disabilities, and members of the transport sector.
“This is not just about selling rice at ₱20 per kilo—it’s about protecting Filipino families from high food costs while making sure our farmers are paid fairly,” Tiu Laurel said. “When consumers can buy affordable rice and farmers have a stable market for their palay, that’s when the system works.”
The DA chief emphasized that the P20 Rice Program is strategically designed to support the entire rice value chain. By releasing affordable rice and drawing down buffer stocks in National Food Authority (NFA) warehouses, the NFA is better positioned to procure more palay from local farmers at fair and just prices, particularly as the harvest season approaches. This approach helps stabilize rice prices while ensuring farmers have a reliable buyer for their produce.
Alongside the expanded rice program, the DA rolled out a comprehensive package of agricultural interventions to boost productivity and livelihoods in Aklan. The department distributed approximately ₱75 million worth of assistance, including four-wheel drive tractors, rice combine harvesters, farm inputs, certified seeds and fertilizers, crop insurance indemnity checks, composting facilities, hybrid solar renewable energy systems for multiplier farms, trading capital for KADIWA outlets, and 20-footer fiberglass fishing boats for fisherfolk.
Assistant Secretary for Legislative Affairs, Agribusiness, Marketing, and Consumer Affairs Genevieve E. Velicaria-Guevarra underscored the importance of close coordination with local governments to sustain the program.
“Patuloy naming pinapalakas ang P20 ‘Benteng Bigas Meron Na!’ Program sa pakikipagtulungan sa ating Provincial LGUs,” Velicaria-Guevarra said. “Layunin naming ma-institutionalize ito upang tuloy-tuloy at sistematiko ang pagdadala ng abot-kayang bigas sa mamamayan, habang tinitiyak na patas ang balik-benepisyo sa ating mga magsasaka.”
The P20 Rice Program was first launched in Aklan last year, benefiting more than 22,000 households through close coordination between the DA–Food Terminal Inc. (FTI) and the Provincial Government. With the expanded rollout, the DA expects the program to reach more communities across the province.
