Vulnerable sector lauds much-awaited launch of P20/kg rice in NCR

RICE RELIEF. A senior citizen buys rice for PHP20 per kilo during the program launch of the Department of Agriculture, led by Assistant Secretary Genevieve Guevarra (5th from left), at Mandaluyong Public Market 1 on Tuesday (May 13, 2025). The program was launched in Cebu City on May 1 in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directives to achieve food security and sufficiency. (PNA photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler)

By Stephanie Sevillano, Philippine News Agency

MANILA – Members of the vulnerable sector on Tuesday lauded the Department of Agriculture (DA) for officially launching the government’s PHP20 per kilogram rice program in Metro Manila.

The Comelec implemented the program dubbed “Benteng Bigas Meron (BBM) Na” in Metro Manila after the DA adhered to the Commission on Elections’ “ayuda” (assistance) ban 10 days before the May 12 midterm elections.

The DA conducted the program’s pilot launch in Cebu on May 1 in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directives to achieve food security and sufficiency.

Norma Domingo, 61, a street sweeper, thanked the government for pushing the kickoff implementation of the BBM Na in selected Kadiwa ng Pangulo (KNP) sites in Metro Manila.

“Salamat at natupad ang matagal na naming hinihintay. Sana nga magtuluy-tuloy (Thank you, finally they have fulfilled what we’ve been waiting for so long. I hope this will be sustained),” she told the Philippine News Agency in an interview.

Emelita dela Cruz, 55, a Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) recipient, said she has waited over 10 years to access retail rice as low as PHP20 per kg.

“Hinihintay ko talaga ito, matagal na kaya ito. Siguro mahigit sampung taon na, hindi pa rin ako nakakabili ngayon pa lang (I’ve been waiting for this. It’s been so long, maybe more than ten years. I haven’t been able to buy, not until now),” she told the PNA.

She, however, called on the DA to adjust its 30-kg monthly purchase limit to a higher volume to support the needs of the eight members of her family.

“Kung pwede po sana madagdagan iyong bibilhing bigas ng 25 kilo pa para madagdagan sa pamilya namin (If possible, we hope to have 25 kg more for the purchase limit of rice for our family),” dela Cruz said.

Good quality

Rodrigo Macalinao, 60, meanwhile, challenged the critics of the quality of rice to personally purchase and taste it.

“Subukan nila para malaman nila. Okay naman siya, malalaman pa ito kapag sinaing. Masaya ako dahil mayroon nang benteng bigas. Bawas gastos, mababa ang presyo (They should try it so that they will know that it’s okay, but we will know it once we cook it. I’m happy because we already have PHP20 per kg rice. It’s less expense, lower price),” he told the PNA.

Assistant Secretary Genevieve Velicaria-Guevarra said the NCR launch of the program is part of the DA’s efforts to support the consumers.

“After election, as promised, iyon pong ating mga PHP29 before na nagbebenta, asahan nila na iyon ay maco-convert sa PHP20. Kung kayo po ay bumibili ng PHP29 dati, ito ay PHP20 na ngayon (we have PHP29 per kg being sold before, you can expect that this will be converted to PHP20 now. If you’re buying PHP29 rice, it’s now PHP20),” she said.

The agri official, meanwhile, assured the sustainability of the program in the region, with each site given 30 to 50 bags of 50-kg National Food Authority (NFA) rice.

“Ang target po natin (Our target) is we will be in 32 markets and stores this week,” Guevarra said, higher than the earlier 19 sites announced.

Besides KNP centers and stalls in Metro Manila, the DA will also roll out the PHP20 per kg rice program in Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, and Oriental Mindoro.