President Marcos wants subsidized P20/kilo rice sustained
The Philippine government plans to sustain its subsidized P20-per-kilo rice program until 2028 to support vulnerable households. Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. noted that the program is targeted to avoid harming local farmers' incomes.
Why it matters
The program addresses food security and inflation, which are critical economic issues for the Philippine population.
MANILA, Philippines - The government has funding in place to sustain President Marcos' P20-per-kilo subsidized rice program until the end of his term, with most of the additional funds released still unused, agriculture chief Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said yesterday.
Known as "Benteng Bigas Meron Na!," the program is providing relief to vulnerable consumers and is expected to reach as many as 60 million Filipinos through June 2028.
"It's really helping a lot of people," Tiu Lau Laurel said, pointing to the program's impact on households hit by high food costs.
The funding position gives the government room to sustain the subsidy while keeping it targeted at consumers who need it most.
The initiative also gives the National Food Authority (NFA) a bigger role in the rice market by allowing it to purchase more palay from local farmers through faster inventory movement.
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