MANILA — The Department of Agriculture (DA) will roll out Benteng Bigas, Meron Na!—the flagship affordable rice program of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.—on Tuesday, September 16, initially benefiting more than 57,000 public transport workers across five major cities.

From bus, jeepney, and tricycle drivers to transport operators, the transport sector joins the ranks of Filipinos able to buy rice at just P20 per kilo, part of President Marcos’ broader effort to reduce the cost of living.

“This is more than a food program. It’s a promise being fulfilled—a fight against hunger that meets people where they are,” said Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. “We are grateful to our partner agencies for making this possible in record time.”

The DA is implementing the program in coordination with the Department of Transportation, Department of the Interior and Local Government, and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, which helped identify eligible beneficiaries. Drivers and operators may purchase up to 10 kilos of rice per month at the subsidized price.

Initial rollouts will take place in:

• Quezon City (Bureau of Animal Industry) – 17,633 beneficiaries
• Navotas City (Philippine Fisheries Development Authority) – 1,001 beneficiaries
• Angeles City, Pampanga (Barangay Pandan) – 9,961 beneficiaries
• Cebu City (Food Terminal Inc.) – 24,742 beneficiaries
• Tagum City – 3,650 beneficiaries

Distribution centers include the Bureau of Animal Industry and Agricultural Development Center in Quezon City, Philippine Fisheries Development Authority in Navotas, Food Terminal Inc. warehouse in Angeles, Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division in Cebu, and the AMAD office in Tagum.

Originally aimed at senior citizens, solo parents, persons with disabilities, and indigent households, the P20 Rice Program has expanded to include minimum wage earners, farmers, fisherfolk, public school teachers, DepEd non-teaching staff, and DSWD’s Walang Gutom beneficiaries.

“We are fully committed to President Marcos’ directive to extend this program to 15 million households by 2026—and to keep it going until the end of his term in 2028,” Secretary Tiu Laurel said. “From city markets to rural roads, the message is clear: Benteng Bigas, Meron Na! is no longer a campaign promise but a reality.”