President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has directed key government agencies to further expand and reinforce the implementation of Benteng Bigas Meron Na, the administration’s flagship rice subsidy program aimed at making affordable rice more accessible to low-income families.
In a press briefing on Thursday, Palace Press Officer, Presidential Communications Office Claire Castro, said the President ordered the Department of Agriculture (DA) to intensify coordination with local government units (LGUs) to ensure that rice priced at P20 per kilo becomes available in more outlets and public markets nationwide.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) was also instructed to identify and prioritize communities where vulnerable sectors can benefit most from the program.
Meanwhile, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) was tasked with monitoring local implementation by requiring LGUs to submit regular accomplishment reports.
Castro said Marcos has assured the farmers that the National Food Authority (NFA) will continue purchasing palay (unmilled rice) at viable prices to support production while sustaining the program's goals.
“Upang mapanatag ang ating mga magsasaka, siniguro ng Pangulo na hindi bababa ang kanilang kita dahil may pondo ang gobyerno para dito,” Castro said.
(To reassure our farmers, the President emphasized that their income will not suffer as the government has allocated funding for this initiative.)
She added that the program not only provides affordable rice to consumers, but also empowers farmers.
“Pinapalakas din ng 20 pesos rice program ang suporta sa partner-farmers dahil pwede nang direktang magbenta sa merkado. Wala nang middlemen at mababawasan pa ang kanilang post-harvest losses,” Castro stressed.
(The P20-rice program strengthens support for farmers, allowing them to sell directly to markets. This removes middlemen and reduces post-harvest losses.)
On Wednesday, Marcos launched the 94th outlet of the Benteng Bigas Meron Na program at the Zapote-Bacoor Public Market in Bacoor City, Cavite.