The Department of Agriculture (DA) has begun a wider rollout of its P20-per-kilo rice initiative in La Union, extending subsidized grain to more households while creating additional outlets for local palay suppliers.

The province-wide launch was held Friday at Plaza de Santa Lucia in Aringay, where 200 sacks of rice were offered at P20 per kilo under the Marcos administration’s Benteng Bigas, Meron Na! program. Around 1,000 residents were served during the opening day.

The provincial government, headed by Gov. Mario Eduardo Ortega, secured an initial 500 sacks from Food Terminal Inc. for distribution. Of this volume, 300 sacks will be released in phases: 100 sacks each in Balaoan on 25 February, Bacnotan on 27 February, and the City of San Fernando on 2 March. Each stop is expected to reach about 500 beneficiaries.

The subsidy targets vulnerable sectors, including senior citizens, solo parents, persons with disabilities, and beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program. Farmers registered under the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture, accredited fisherfolk, transport workers, teachers, and minimum wage earners are also eligible.

Regional Executive Director Didel Libao, who led the Agriculture department’s team in La Union, said the effort reflects President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s commitment to lowering food costs for Filipino families.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. earlier said each kilo of P20 rice bought by consumers “represents not only savings but a hand extended to help lift millions of rice farmers out of poverty.”

Malacañang has instructed the Agriculture department to expand the program’s coverage to as many as 60 million Filipinos, including lower middle-income households, through June 2028.

The La Union rollout coincided with “Aldaw ti Umili,” a provincial convergence of frontline services led by the Provincial Health Office, which gathered various government agencies in one venue to provide health and social assistance.

The event also featured the KADIWA ng Pangulo market, organized with the DA Regional Field Office I and the Aringay local government. Ten local producers participated, selling agricultural goods directly to consumers.

Benteng Bigas, Meron Na! forms part of the broader KADIWA platform, which aims to stabilize retail rice prices while ensuring better returns for farmers. With food inflation still weighing on household budgets, the program in La Union underscores the government’s effort to provide short-term relief while reinforcing links between producers and consumers.