By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
Amid added financial pressures due to higher fuel prices, the government continues to reaffirm its commitment to initiatives that truly resonate with Filipinos.
This, as the Department of Agriculture (D.A.) accelerates the nationwide rollout of the “Benteng Bigas, Meron Na!” program to ensure that the citizenry has access to quality affordable rice, wherever they may be in the country.
The expansion entails extended selling hours and additional distribution outlets across the Philippines. It comes as a timely intervention for the vulnerable sectors that primarily benefit from the administration’s staple grain initiative, which offers rice at P20 per kilo.
Some of the primary beneficiaries of the program include Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) households, senior citizens, solo parents, persons with disabilities (PWDs), farmers, and fisherfolks.
As of the first quarter of 2026, the D.A. has established 932 P20 rice selling sites nationwide, composed of KADIWA outlets, National Food Authority (NFA) warehouses, local government units, national government agencies, and other sellers accredited by Food Terminal Inc. (FTI). As of April 7, 2026, a total of 6.45 million beneficiaries have been serviced across all operating sites.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu-Laurel Jr. said in a statement, “By expanding access to affordable rice and essential goods, we are directly easing that pressure and ensuring vulnerable sectors are protected while we work to stabilize both prices and supply.”
The renewed FTI-NFA agreement will boost the P20 rice program through the rollout of an additional 900 stalls nationwide, with Capiz, Bukidnon, Cebu, Cotabato, and Catanduanes among those set to benefit from the expanded affordable rice initiative.
This deal also covers the procurement of about 1.8 million 50-kilogram sacks of well-milled rice, backed by a ₱3 billion budget, which is part of the ₱10 billion allocated for the rice for all program. The initial ₱3 billion allocated to the NFA will scale up palay procurement—directly linking affordable rice distribution with stronger support for local farmers.
As rice stocks are released into the market, revenues are reinvested into further palay purchases, creating a continuous procurement cycle. This steady turnover also frees up space in NFA warehouses, enabling the agency to buy more from farmers, particularly during peak harvest periods when prices are most vulnerable.
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