Lower-middle-income Filipinos may access rice at P20 per kilogram under the massive and accelerated rollout of “Benteng Bigas Meron Na” (BBM Na) across the country starting January 2026, the Department of Agriculture said.
This is part of the promise of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to provide Filipinos, particularly the poor and vulnerable members of society, with cheaper and higher-quality rice options, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said.
He said the intensified implementation seeks to reach 15 million households, in coordination with local government units (LGUs).
“Every week of the year next year, we will release a schedule of implementation for P20 rice for the lower middle income class and below,” he said.
At least eight areas will be prioritized for the provincial-wide rollout from January to February, with Pangasinan leading the list.
To date, the BBM Na rice program is available in all 82 provinces and has benefitted almost 2 million households.
Tiu Laurel assured collaboration with LGUs in expanding the program, gaining positive feedback since costs will be fully subsidized or incurred by the national government, and local governments will only be tasked to sell rice and ensure logistics.
He said the cheap rice may also be available in schools or companies for other sectors, in collaboration with the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
He assured the availability of supply, citing the procurement of palay (unhusked rice) to support local farmers.
“At the end of the day, if there’s a strong uptick and there’s a good rollout, then we will consume all the NFA rice because we can purchase anew),” Tiu Laurel said.
