BONGAO, Tawi-Tawi —The Department of Agriculture (DA) has expanded the rollout of the “Benteng Bigas, Meron Na!”—the flagship food program of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.—in Tawi-Tawi, reinforcing the national government’s drive to deliver affordable rice and strengthen food security in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas.
A province long recognized as a cradle of tropical seaweed cultivation, Tawi-Tawi depends heavily on fisheries and seaweed farming for livelihoods. With no local rice production, it relies entirely on shipments from other regions—making access to affordable rice a persistent challenge for residents.
Leading the rollout at the Bongao Gym, Assistant Secretary for Agribusiness, Marketing and Consumer Affairs Atty. Genevieve E. Velicaria-Guevarra said the project’s expansion in Tawi-Tawi is both strategic and urgent.
“Bagama’t magkakahiwalay ang ating mga isla at malayo sa sentro ng kalakalan, malinaw ang direktiba ng Pangulong Marcos na walang lalawigan ang malilimutan at walang Pilipino ang maiiwan. Ang Tawi-Tawi ay mahalagang bahagi ng ating layunin na tiyakin ang sapat, abot kaya, at de kalidad na bigas para sa bawat pamilyang Pilipino,” Velicaria-Guevarra said.
She emphasized that the P20 Rice Project is more than a subsidy program, noting that it directly offsets the steep food and transport costs faced by island provinces, where basic commodities often sell at significantly higher prices than in mainland areas.
The Tawi-Tawi rollout is part of the nationwide expansion of the P20 rice initiative, carried out under the directive of President Marcos Jr. and the leadership of Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr., to ensure affordable rice reaches communities from Luzon and the Visayas to the farthest islands of Mindanao.
Governor Yshmael Sali welcomed the program’s expansion and pledged the full support of the Provincial Local Government Unit.
“The Provincial Government of Tawi-Tawi fully commits to support the P20 Benteng Bigas program. Malaking tulong ito sa aming mga kababayan, lalo na sa mga pamilyang higit na nangangailangan, upang matiyak na may sapat at abot kayang bigas sa bawat tahanan,” Sali said.
DA data show that around 25,000 qualified beneficiaries in Tawi-Tawi—particularly low-income households, fisherfolk, seaweed farmers, and other vulnerable sectors—are expected to benefit from the program.
Velicaria-Guevarra also announced that, following instructions from President Marcos Jr. and Secretary Tiu Laurel, the P20 Rice Project will run until June 30, 2028, providing sustained relief to Filipino families while helping stabilize rice supply nationwide.
Tawi-tawi is the 5th area were province-wide coverage of P20 rice program has been rolled out since January 13 as part of a broader goal to reach 15 million households, including lower middle income families and vulnerable sectors, by the end of the year.
