MANILA — Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. announced the expansion of the government’s P20-per-kilo rice program, with a province-wide rollout in Pangasinan scheduled for January, as part of the Marcos administration’s goal to reach 15 million households by the end of 2026.

Branded “Benteng Bigas, Meron Na!”, the flagship food security program seeks to curb food inflation, widen access to affordable rice, and support farmgate prices for palay.

Initially limited to the most vulnerable sectors, the program has gradually expanded its coverage. The government has earmarked P23 billion in 2026 to subsidize the P20 rice initiative, an amount that could be reduced if pending legislation granting the National Food Authority (NFA) broader powers to manage rice supply and demand is approved.

“We started with the most vulnerable—4Ps beneficiaries, persons with disabilities, single parents, and senior citizens,” Tiu Laurel said. “Then we expanded to TODA members, farmers, fisherfolk, minimum-wage earners, teachers, and non-teaching personnel. Millions have already benefited. By 2026, our target is 15 million households, or roughly 60 million Filipinos.”

Pangasinan will serve as the pilot area for the next phase of the program, marking a shift from limited distribution to full provincial coverage. Once implemented, all eligible middle-income and lower-income households in the province will be allowed to purchase rice at P20 per kilo.

“This is a provincial-level launch,” Tiu Laurel said. “By January, all qualified households in Pangasinan should already have access. This is a massive rollout.”

After Pangasinan, the Department of Agriculture (DA) plans to expand the program to three cities in the Visayas and Mindanao, including Davao City, as well as six more provinces between January and February. These areas were selected based on available NFA stocks and logistical readiness.

The January–February expansion is expected to cover around 780,000 households, or about 3.2 million Filipinos.

To support the wider rollout, the DA will issue a weekly implementation schedule covering the entire year. Purchase limits will remain in place, with senior citizens allowed to buy up to 30 kilos per month, while other beneficiaries will be limited to 10 kilos.

“There are real bottlenecks—supply, transport, and distribution,” Tiu Laurel said. “This is especially true if we scale up further or if the President wants to increase volumes.”

Most of the rice will be sourced from the NFA, which poses challenges in delivering supplies to remote and island communities, particularly those without NFA warehouses. The expansion will require additional trucks, drivers, and cashiers, as well as close coordination with local governments to manage costs and ensure accountability.

Beneficiaries will be required to register through QR codes to streamline distribution and auditing. “At the end of the day, we must answer to COA,” Tiu Laurel said.

Distribution will utilize existing Kadiwa ng Pangulo stores, public markets, and LGU-run outlets, with a target of at least one access point per municipality. The government aims to expand the number of Kadiwa stores from 740 to 3,000 by 2028.

“This is a whole-of-government effort,” Tiu Laurel said. “This is the President’s promise—and we are delivering.”