The government is expanding its ₱20-per-kilo rice program to help low-income families cope with rising food prices linked to high fuel costs.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., PBBM in people’s minds, has ordered the Department of Agriculture (DA) to widen the rollout of the “Benteng Bigas, Meron Na!” program by adding more selling sites and extending operating hours.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. said the move aims to keep rice affordable as transport and logistics costs continue to push market prices higher.
As of early 2026, there are 932 selling sites nationwide, including KADIWA centers, National Food Authority (NFA) warehouses, and outlets run by local governments and partner agencies. By April 7, about 6.45 million people had benefited from the program.
Qualified buyers include senior citizens, 4Ps beneficiaries, solo parents, persons with disabilities, and farmers and fisherfolk.
The DA plans to open 900 more sites, focusing on high-need areas such as Capiz, Bukidnon, Cebu, Cotabato, and Catanduanes.
The expansion is supported by a new agreement between the Food Terminal Inc. (FTI) and the NFA, backed by a ₱3 billion budget. The deal covers the purchase of around 1.8 million sacks of rice and is part of a larger ₱10 billion food program.
Officials said the initiative will also help farmers by boosting palay (unmilled rice) purchases. In some areas, buying prices have reached up to ₱30 per kilo to protect farmers’ income, according to NFA Administrator Larry R. Lacson.
FTI, led by Joseph Rudolph C. Lo, will handle procurement, while the NFA will supply rice stocks. The government aims to expand the network to 1,800 outlets by the end of 2026.
Officials said the program is meant to ease pressure on households during global oil price instability, while also supporting local farmers and maintaining stable rice supply.
