Bacoor: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. personally led the launch of the PHP20 per kg rice initiative at the Zapote Public Market in Bacoor, Cavite, as part of his administration's effort to make rice more affordable for low-income Filipino families. The program, called 'Benteng Bigas, Meron (BBM) Na!', is implemented through the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the National Food Authority (NFA), with coordination from other agencies handling food subsidy and social welfare programs.
According to Philippines News Agency, the PHP20/kg rice will be available to priority sectors, including senior citizens, persons with disabilities (PWDs), solo parents, and beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), through designated Kadiwa ng Pangulo outlets across Metro Manila, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, and Mimaropa. DA Assistant Secretary Genevieve Guevarra remarked that the initial response from Bacoor residents has been overwhelmingly positive. Guevarra highlighted the warm reception from the locals towards the program and noted that the rice selling schedule may be adjusted based on local government requests.
In Bacoor City, 500 sacks of rice procured by the NFA from local farmers were delivered through the DA's Kadiwa ng Pangulo outlet at the Zapote-Bacoor Public Market. This allotment allows 2,500 residents to purchase 10 kg each at the subsidized price of PHP20 per kg. The DA's Food Terminal Inc. buys the rice from NFA and sells it through the Kadiwa ng Pangulo network and other P20 program participants.
The national government aims to make the program regular starting this week, depending on supply and coordination with local governments. Phase 2 of the program, set to begin later this month, will expand to more areas in Calabarzon and other provinces surrounding Metro Manila, with plans to roll out to selected LGUs in Visayas and Mindanao. The DA is also considering widening the scope of beneficiaries and involving small-scale rice farmers in the long term.
The PHP20/kg rice program is a campaign promise of the President and is part of a broader agenda to address food inflation, stabilize prices, and strengthen agricultural value chains. Data from the DA's Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service indicates that between May 13 and June 30, more than 105,000 families in Luzon and the Visayas purchased over 804,000 kg of rice under the program.
