President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday led officials of the Department of Agriculture in launching the Benteng Bigas, Meron Na! program in Bacoor City, Cavite, a major expansion of the P20 rice initiative aimed at easing the financial burden of millions of Filipino families.
Originally planned for pilot testing in the Visayas this year, the P20 rice project is now being rolled out in key urban centers, including those outside Metro Manila, with the goal of reaching 15 million beneficiaries across the country by next year. This follows President Marcos’ directive to scale up the program beyond its test phase, accelerate its implementation nationwide and extend it through 2028.
In Bacoor, 500 sacks of rice procured by the National Food Authority from local farmers were delivered through the KADIWA ng Pangulo outlet at the Zapote-Bacoor Public Market.
The allotment is enough to allow 2,500 residents to purchase 10 kilos each at a subsidized price of P20 per kilo. The Food Terminal Inc. buys the rice from the NFA and sells it through the KADIWA ng Pangulo network and other P20 program participants.
Following the successful launch, the P20 per kilo rice will now be regularly available at the Zapote-Bacoor Public Market, providing sustained relief to everyday consumers in the area.
Data from the DA’s Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service show that between 13 May and 30 June, more than 105,000 families in Luzon and the Visayas purchased over 804,000 kilos of rice under the program. Beneficiaries include senior citizens, solo parents, persons with disabilities, indigent families, and, more recently, minimum wage earners projected numbering one million beneficiaries by year-end.
Agriculture chief Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. said the initiative supports both consumers and farmers. “For every sack of rice sold under this program, we remove two bags of palay from NFA warehouses—stocks that must be replaced by grain from our farmers,” he said. “This creates a sustainable market for local producers while helping Filipino households access affordable staple food.”
The program also helps decongest NFA storage facilities and ensures that rice procurement budgets are reinvested into the rural economy.
To date, the DA has established 94 sites nationwide of P20 rice outlets, reflecting the Marcos administration’s commitment to stabilizing rice prices, empowering local farmers, and ensuring that no Filipino is left behind. With its strong local governance and community engagement, Bacoor serves as a model site for further rollout.
The initiative reflects the administration’s broader whole-of-government approach, with collaboration among the DA, NFA, FTI, Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Social Welfare and Development, and local governments to deliver high-impact programs.
