The Department of Agriculture (DA) is widening access to affordable rice and basic food staples in Manila, scaling up the KADIWA ng Pangulo and the P20 “Benteng Bigas, Meron Na!” rice program as part of a broader push to strengthen food security in this densely populated Philippine capital.
The DA recently held a coordination meeting with the City Government of Manila, which is home to around 2 million people and hosts a million more during the day. Talks focused on ensuring steady access to low-cost food while reinforcing urban agriculture as a practical buffer against supply disruptions and rising prices.
Central to the discussion was the Gulayan sa Bayan Program, which promotes household- and community-level food production to improve nutrition, food availability, and resilience in highly urbanized areas. The strategy complements rice subsidies by bringing food production closer to consumers, reducing logistics costs and dependence on external supply chains.
The meeting was attended by Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso, along with DA Undersecretary for High Value Crops Cheryl Marie Natividad-Caballero and Assistant Secretary for Agribusiness, Marketing, and Consumer Affairs Atty. Genevieve E. Velicaria-Guevarra. Officials reviewed the expansion of flagship programs, including Urban Agriculture, Gulayan sa Paaralan, KADIWA ng Pangulo, and the P20 rice initiative.
Caballero underscored Manila’s strong demand for high-value crops and the economic case for urban farming. “The market for vegetables, herbs, and other high-demand crops in Manila is huge,” she said. “Urban farming brings production closer to the market, cuts costs, and creates income opportunities for communities. Cities play a critical role in building sustainable food systems.”
Mayor Moreno pledged the city’s full support for the expanded rollout of KADIWA and the P20 rice program, while also highlighting the importance of engaging young people in food production. “We will expand access to affordable rice for Manileños, while teaching the youth that food can be grown even in the city,” he said.
Guevarra said the P20 rice program is being rolled out more widely across Metro Manila, in line with the DA’s directive to ensure broader coverage and reach more urban families in need.
