The Department of Agriculture (DA) has launched the nationwide expansion of its “Benteng Bigas, Meron Na!” program on Tuesday to provide low-cost rice to vulnerable citizens while boosting farmer incomes through large-scale procurement and improved logistics.
The initiative targets roughly 177,000 families or 708,000 individuals in Pangasinan province. Priority recipients include senior citizens, indigents, farmers, fishers, persons with disabilities, solo parents and minimum wage earners.
DA assistant secretary Genevieve Velicaria-Guevarra said the 2026 expansion through local government units institutionalizes food security and allows the National Food Authority (NFA) to buy more palay at sustainable prices.
The program strengthens government inventory management by empowering local units to handle the distribution process.
The DA views food inflation as a challenge of logistics and market coordination rather than production alone. By the end of January, officials plan to extend the program to Nueva Ecija, Bohol, Zamboanga City and Davao City, locations chosen for their high rice output or significant consumer demand.
Funding for the 2026 rollout is estimated at P14 billion, which includes P4 billion carried over from 2025. The budget is separate from a P9 billion allocation dedicated to NFA palay procurement.
The NFA holds 2.2 million 50-kilogram bags of freshly milled rice and 700,000 bags of older stocks. This inventory totals 451,886 metric tons or 9.04 million bags, representing enough supply to cover nearly 12 days of national consumption.
