Over 12M Filipinos benefited from P20/kilo rice program — Marcos

More than 12 million Filipinos benefited from the government's P20 per kilo rice initiative or the "Benteng Bigas, Meron Na!" program, said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday.

"Patuloy pa rin ang programang 'Benteng Bigas, Meron Na'. Ito’y nakakapagbigay-ginhawa sa mahigit labing-dalawang milyong Pilipino sa buong bansa," said Marcos.

(The 'Benteng Bigas, Meron Na,' program is still ongoing. This brings relief to over 12 million Filipinos across the country.)

The P20 per kilo rice initiative provides subsidized rice to vulnerable sectors, including senior citizens, persons with disabilities, solo parents, minimum wage earners, public transport workers, indigents, and registered farmers and fisherfolk.

The program sources rice from the stocks of the National Food Authority (NFA), which are procured directly from local farmers. The government subsidizes the program through the Food Terminal Inc. (FTI).

The program has generated P2.4 billion in sales since it was launched in May last year, pushing the sales of KADIWA ng Pangulo stores to over P4 billion, the Department of Agriculture (DA) earlier said.

Further, Marcos noted that the government distributed 26,000 metric tons of rice, benefitting 2.5 million families.

"Sa panahon na lumiit ang kita dahil sa mataas na mga presyo, mahigit dalawampu’t anim na libong toneladang bigas ang binigay sa mahigit dalawa’t kalahating milyong pamilya. At ito’y itutuloy pa natin hanggang umabot sa walong milyong pamilya ang makikinabang," he said.

(During a time when income has shrunk due to high prices, over twenty-six thousand metric tons of rice were distributed to more than two and a half million families. And we will continue this until eight million families benefit.)

Moreover, the Marcos administration highlighted that nearly two million farmers and fisherfolk received assistance through the Presidential Assistance to Farmers, Fisherfolk, and Families (PAFFF).

"Nagbigay din tayo ng suporta sa halos dalawang milyong magsasaka at mangingisda sa kasagsagan ng mataas na presyo ng langis, sa ilalim ng Presidential Assistance to Farmers, Fisherfolk, and Families o ‘yung tinatawag na PAFFF," said Marcos.

(We also provided support to nearly two million farmers and fisherfolk at the height of high oil prices, under the Presidential Assistance to Farmers, Fisherfolk, and Families, or what is called PAFFF.) —RF, GMA News