PALO, Leyte — The Department of Agriculture (DA) has intensified the rollout of its P20-per-kilo rice initiative, “Benteng Bigas, Meron Na!”, with back-to-back distributions in Leyte and Samar, reaching thousands of beneficiaries and reinforcing efforts to ensure affordable food for vulnerable sectors.
In Palo, Leyte, more than 5,000 individuals received subsidized rice under the program. Beneficiaries included farmers, fisherfolk, transport workers such as tricycle and jeepney drivers, minimum wage earners, and indigent households.
The DA said the program is expected to expand further, with up to 15,000 individuals listed under the Provincial Local Government Unit’s registry targeted in the coming days.
Simultaneously, around 2,000 qualified beneficiaries in Sta. Rita, Samar, also availed of the low-cost rice through a coordinated rollout with the provincial government.
Alongside rice distribution, KADIWA ng Pangulo sellers—composed largely of farmers’ cooperatives and associations—offered fresh vegetables, processed food, and other value-added products. The initiative not only supplemented household food needs but also created additional income streams for local producers.
Agriculture Assistant Secretary Genevieve Velicaria-Guevarra said the program has contributed to stabilizing palay prices during the harvest season. She noted that the National Food Authority continues to procure palay at fair prices while releasing rice stocks through KADIWA outlets and P20 distribution channels.
“The P20 Rice Program has helped provide better returns for farmers while ensuring affordable rice for consumers,” she said, adding that the strategy encourages sustained planting and supports long-term food security.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. underscored the importance of the initiative, describing it as a cornerstone of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s food security agenda.
“In these challenging times, this flagship program of President Marcos ensures that no Filipino family is left behind when it comes to access to affordable rice, while at the same time safeguarding the welfare of our farmers,” Tiu Laurel said.
The DA said the successive rollouts highlight the government’s commitment to maintaining a stable, sufficient, and accessible rice supply, particularly for low-income households, while strengthening support for Filipino farmers.
President Marcos has directed the DA to extend the targeted rice program until the end of his term in June 2028. The DA is expanding the food program’s footprint to benefit as many as 60 million Filipinos by this year’s end.
