Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. led the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) visit to Batanes to launch the “P20 Benteng Bigas, Meron Na!” program and distribute over ₱13 million in agricultural and fisheries support.
The flagship initiative of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. aims to provide select sectors—including senior citizens, solo parents, PWDs, 4Ps households, farmers, fisherfolk, and minimum wage earners—access to high-quality rice at ₱20 per kilo. Batanes joins over 350 sites nationwide in the program rollout.
“This is not just about rice,” said Secretary Tiu Laurel. “It’s about dignity, equality, and hope for every Filipino family—no matter how far they are.”
Alongside the rice initiative, the DA distributed motorized fishing boats, chest freezers, chilling tanks, and farming inputs to 374 beneficiaries. The agency also turned over the province’s first Soil Fertility Map to guide science-based fertilizer and land-use planning.
Recognizing Batanes’ unique agricultural challenges, Tiu Laurel praised the resilience of the Ivatan people and reaffirmed the DA’s commitment to a food-secure Philippines.
