The Department of Agriculture (DA) is ramping up the expansion of the “Benteng Bigas, Meron Na!” program across the National Capital Region, deepening the Marcos administration’s push to make affordable rice widely accessible, especially to vulnerable sectors.
A flagship food program of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., the project offers quality rice at P20 per kilo, a price point aimed at cushioning Filipino families from persistent food inflation.
The expanded Metro Manila rollout will prioritize senior citizens, solo parents, persons with disabilities, Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries, minimum wage earners, members of Tricycle Operators and Drivers Associations, farmers, fisherfolk, and other qualified groups.
The timing is deliberate. March marks the start of peak harvest season in several rice-producing provinces, with higher palay output expected to enter the market.
The DA sees the expansion of the P20 program, which aims to reach as many as 15 million households, from lower middle income to financially-challenged, as a dual-purpose intervention. It is expected to decongest warehouses of National Food Authority (NFA) to make room for fresh stocks while addressing temporary supply gaps caused by delayed rice imports.
On February 11, the DA—together with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA)—convened a Technical Working Group meeting with Metro Manila local government units to fast-track and harmonize implementation.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. outlined an ambitious target.
“The DA envisions establishing at least five P20 ‘Benteng Bigas’ outlets in every LGU in Metro Manila,” Laurel said. “Our goal is simple: bring affordable rice closer to our constituents and ensure vulnerable sectors are directly served. This expansion underscores our firm commitment to food security and to easing the financial burden on Filipino families.”
The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Agribusiness, Marketing, and Consumer Affairs together with the DA-Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service (DA-AMAS), which oversees the project, is targeting full-scale expansion by end-March 2026 to align with peak harvest flows and maximize supply availability.
AMAS Director Junibert De Sagun called on LGUs to accelerate compliance and documentation to avoid rollout delays.
“We are preparing for full-scale expansion by the end of March,” De Sagun said. “Close coordination with LGUs and DA-FTI is critical to ensure efficient distribution and sustained supply of P20 rice.”
The MMDA pledged logistical and monitoring support. Chairman Atty. Romando S. Artes said the agency would actively track LGU compliance to ensure broader reach.
“This is a shared responsibility,” Artes said. “Affordable rice must reach as many Metro Manila families as possible.”
With tighter inter-agency coordination and harvest-season supply tailwinds, the DA is positioning the P20 rice initiative as both a social safety net and a market-stabilizing tool in the capital.
