Following a directive from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the Department of Agriculture will continue offering its P20 per kilogram rice through 2028, DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. announced Monday.
“That is the formula. The President instructed us to extend the program to 2028,” Tiu Laurel said in a press briefing at the Palace.
The subsidized rice initiative, branded “Benteng Bigas Meron (BBM) Na,” is jointly funded by the DA and local governments.
It is being rolled out across key areas in Metro Manila and Luzon, with expansion plans underway.
Launched this May, the program aims to improve rice affordability for vulnerable sectors while also managing aging rice stocks from the National Food Authority (NFA).
Tiu Laurel assured the public that improvements are being made to enhance the experience at Kadiwa ng Pangulo (KNP) stalls, such as providing shelter and ventilation amid high summer temperatures.
Long queues remain a challenge, but the DA said public reception has been positive.
A three-phase nationwide rollout is planned for 2024, starting with provinces in the Visayas and Mindoro.
Phase 2 in July will target high-poverty areas like Zamboanga del Norte and parts of Mindanao and Bicol, followed by Phase 3 covering Sultan Kudarat, Catanduanes, and other island provinces.
By June, the DA aims to offer P20 rice in at least 55 KNP outlets.
In a related development, the DA has begun investigating traders in Luzon accused of buying rice from farmers at unfairly low prices—between P13 and P15 per kilo.
Tiu Laurel said 32 areas are currently under review, with specific traders being identified and monitored for possible sanctions.
The twin moves—expanding rice subsidies while cracking down on exploitative buying practices—are part of the DA’s broader effort to stabilize rice prices, protect farmers’ livelihoods, and ensure food security nationwide.