The Department of Agriculture (DA), in partnership with the provincial government of Guimaras, has officially launched the “Benteng Bigas, Meron na!” program in San Miguel on Tuesday, expanding the government’s affordable rice initiative to more Filipinos in the Visayas.

The program offers rice at P20 per kilo to senior citizens, persons with disabilities, solo parents and indigent residents. The subsidized rice is made available through Kadiwa ng Pangulo centers and partner local government units (LGUs), with distribution costs shared by the Food Terminal Inc. (FTI).

“We thank the province of Guimaras, led by Governor Ma. Lucille L. Nava, for supporting this affordable rice program. By making P20 rice accessible to financially-challenged consumers, the province is also helping rice farmers from other regions who supply this essential commodity,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said.

Under the program, eligible beneficiaries are allowed to buy up to 10 kilos of rice each month. An initial order of 5,000 sacks has been placed with FTI, which will source the supply from the National Food Authority (NFA).

The NFA currently holds enough rice inventory to meet 12 days’ worth of national consumption. As it offloads its stocks through the program, the agency is also expected to resume palay procurement from local farmers at competitive prices.

Officials said the initiative is not just a short-term relief measure, but also a boost to the country’s agricultural ecosystem, ensuring food security while reinforcing the income stream of Filipino rice producers.