September sees nearly 1-m filipinos buying cheaper rice
‘This year alone, from January to the end of September, the P20-per-kilo rice program has directly helped over 5.6 million Filipinos ease pressure on their wallets, while helping local farmers secure a higher price for their palay from the NFA.’ The government plans to sustain the P20-per-kilo rice initiative until June 2028.
THE Department of Agriculture has reported that 961,346 beneficiaries purchased subsidized P20-per-kilo rice in September 2026, marking the highest monthly turnout since the ‘Benteng Bigas, Meron Na!’ program launched in May 2025. The September figure represents the highest single-month total of participants accessing the low-cost staple.
Close to a million Filipinos bought subsidized P20-per-kilo rice in September, marking the highest monthly turnout since the government launched its affordable rice program in May 2025.
Department of Agriculture data showed that 961,346 beneficiaries purchased 21.4 million kilos of locally produced rice under the Benteng Bigas, Meron Na! program, surpassing the previous monthly record of 838,695 beneficiaries set in April.
The program serves vulnerable sectors, including senior citizens, indigents, solo parents, persons with disabilities, farmers, fisherfolk and minimum-wage earners.
“This year alone, from January to the end of September, the P20-per-kilo rice program has directly helped over 5.6 million Filipinos ease the pressure on their wallets, while helping local farmers secure a higher price for their palay from the National Food Authority (NFA),” Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. said.
If each beneficiary represents an average household of four members, the program could have reached an estimated 22.4 million people. This is an estimate based on household size, rather than an official beneficiary count.
Kadiwa ng Pangulo
From January to September, the program sold 135.98 million kilos of rice, primarily through selling centers operated or accredited by the Food Terminal Inc. Kadiwa ng Pangulo outlets accounted for nearly 20 percent of the volume, while local government units handled about 15 percent.
The initiative aims to make rice more affordable for consumers while providing local farmers with a market for their harvest. The National Food Authority purchases palay from farmers and supplies rice for the subsidized program.
To accommodate additional palay purchases, Tiu Laurel has ordered a policy change beginning in December that will allow vulnerable beneficiaries, including senior citizens, persons with disabilities, solo parents and indigents, to claim their monthly 30-kilo allocation in a single transaction.
Rice made more accessible
The measure is intended to make rice more accessible to beneficiaries while freeing up NFA warehouse space for additional harvest procurement.
The government plans to sustain the P20-per-kilo rice initiative until June 2028.