MANILA—Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. on Friday, November 28, led the launch of “Benteng Bigas, Meron Na!”, a flagship program under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., aimed at providing 15 million Filipino households with access to affordable rice.

Fully funded by the Department of Agriculture (DA), the initiative offers high-quality rice at P20 per kilo to families in Dapitan, Dipolog, and 25 municipalities across Zamboanga del Norte. Priority beneficiaries include indigent 4Ps households, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, solo parents, farmers, fisherfolk, minimum wage earners, and transport workers.

The program also involves local producers, with the National Food Authority purchasing palay directly from farmers, milling it, and supplying the subsidized rice to KADIWA ng Pangulo outlets.

Friday’s launch included a ceremonial signing of Memoranda of Agreement between the DA and partner local government units, with Secretary Tiu Laurel joined by Governor Darel Dexter Uy, Vice Governor Julius Napigquit, Dipolog City Mayor Roberto Uy, and OIC-Regional Executive Director Vener Dilig.

Central to the rollout is the P20 Benteng Bigas Masterlist Registry System, a digital platform that verifies eligible households and enforces a 10-kilogram monthly rice allocation.

“Ito ay isang digital platform para mabilis matukoy ang mga kwalipikadong benepisyaryo,” Tiu Laurel said, noting that the Marcos administration aims to provide millions of financially challenged Filipino families with “abot-kaya, dekalidad at ligtas na bigas.”

The program is now operational in more than 424 sites nationwide, drawing attention from traders and the broader supply chain as it progresses toward its target and continues through the end of President Marcos’ term in June 2028.