MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has directed government agencies to expand the Benteng Bigas, Meron Na program, which now covers 57,000 public transport workers and will soon include public school teachers and non-teaching staff.

“Pwede nang bumili ng mura at dekalidad na bigas ang mga tsuper sa ilalim ng Benteng Bigas Meron Na program,” Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in a Malacañang briefing on Wednesday.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) said the initiative, which allows eligible beneficiaries to purchase rice at PhP20 per kilo, was initially rolled out in Quezon City, Navotas City, Angeles City, Cebu City, and Tagum City, covering bus, jeepney, and tricycle drivers and operators. Each beneficiary may buy up to 10 kilos per month.

Castro added that teachers and school staff will be the next group to benefit from the program, following the President’s order to make affordable rice more accessible.

According to the DA, the program is being expanded to reach 15 million households, or around 60 million Filipinos.

The flagship program, originally intended for senior citizens, solo parents, persons with disabilities, 4Ps beneficiaries, and indigent households, has since grown to include minimum wage earners, farmers, fisherfolk, and recipients of the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Walang Gutom program.