MANILA — The Department of Agriculture (DA) will start distributing P20-per-kilo rice to jeepney and tricycle drivers on September 16, further expanding President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s flagship “Benteng Bigas, Meron Na!” program.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. said Friday the rollout will begin in five pilot areas, including Navotas City, which has 4,000 accredited drivers. The DA is coordinating with the Department of Transportation (DOTr), which maintains the database of transport groups.

The P20 rice program was first launched for solo parents, senior citizens, 4Ps beneficiaries, and persons with disabilities, and later expanded to minimum wage earners, rice farmers, and fisherfolk. Upcoming beneficiaries include low-income DepEd staff and households under the DSWD’s Walang Gutom program.

On Friday, Tiu Laurel also led the fisherfolk rollout at the Navotas Fish Port Complex, alongside simultaneous launches in Pangasinan and Quezon. Registered fisherfolk can buy up to 10 kilos of rice per month through government IDs or QR codes.

The DA said the phased rollout is meant not only to aid vulnerable sectors but also to collect data on consumption, logistics, and supply needs ahead of a planned nationwide expansion in 2026, which Marcos envisions will cover 15 million households until the end of his term in 2028.

To strengthen the program, the DA will launch a “P20 App” on October 1, designed to track logistics, promote transparency, and curb abuse.

Tiu Laurel assured there is sufficient rice to sustain the program, citing the upcoming auction of 1.2 million bags of National Food Authority (NFA) rice in October.

“This is about more than affordability—it’s about building a reliable system that works nationwide,” Tiu Laurel said.