The “Benteng Bigas Meron Na” program offers rice at ₱20 per kilo to eligible beneficiaries, funded by government subsidies and supported by the NFA’s above-market procurement scheme to benefit rice farmers.
BACOLOD CITY — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s flagship rice subsidy initiative officially launched in Bacolod City on June 5, with rollout plans targeting up to 2 million low-income households across the country by the end of 2025, according to Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.
Branded as “Benteng Bigas, Meron Na,” the program offers rice at ₱20 per kilo to qualified beneficiaries, while also providing price support to Filipino farmers through the government’s procurement system.
“This is not a one-off relief effort—it’s a coordinated national intervention that supports both ends of the supply chain,” Laurel said at the launch. He described the initiative as a “structured program” meant to address both hunger and rural livelihood.
Bacolod Kicks Off Pilot Rollout
Three Kadiwa ng Pangulo distribution centers began operations in Bacolod on June 5, including one at the Burgos Public Market. Beneficiaries—among them 4Ps households, senior citizens, PWDs, solo parents, minimum wage earners, and indigent families—are entitled to purchase up to 30 kilos of rice per month at the discounted rate.
Rice in local markets currently retails at ₱42 to ₱50 per kilo, based on Department of Agriculture (DA) monitoring.
Mayor Albee Benitez joined Secretary Laurel at the launch, calling the program a “timely measure” that makes food more accessible amid continued inflationary pressures.
How the Subsidy Works
The National Food Authority (NFA) is purchasing palay (unmilled rice) from farmers at ₱23 to ₱24 per kilo, above the market average of ₱15 to ₱19 per kilo, to ensure fairer farmgate returns. The rice is then milled and sold to consumers at ₱20 per kilo through government-run outlets.
The program is backed by an initial ₱4.5 billion allocation from the President’s Contingent Fund, and implemented in coordination with Food Terminal Inc. and local government units. Rollouts are already underway in parts of Metro Manila, Mindoro, and Mindanao.
Integrated Food Strategy
The ₱20 rice program complements broader food security efforts, including the Walang Gutom 2027 food stamp initiative led by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). Some DSWD beneficiaries are being integrated into rice subsidy access points.
The DA also announced a ₱2 reduction in the suggested retail price (SRP) of imported rice—from ₱45 to ₱43 per kilo—effective July 1, 2025, to align with global market conditions and provide additional price relief.
Legislative Backing in Progress
President Marcos has committed to sustaining the ₱20-per-kilo program through June 2028. Lawmakers are pushing for legislative support, including amendments to the Rice Tariffication Law, restoration of the NFA’s buffer stocking role, and creation of a Rice Assistance Fund. These proposals remain under congressional review as of June 2025.
Outlook: From Pilot to National Policy
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, about 17.5 million Filipinos—or 15.5% of the population—were living below the national poverty line in 2023. A Social Weather Stations survey conducted in March 2025 found that 27.2% of Filipino families experienced involunta
