The Department of Agriculture (DA) is set to include minimum wage earners in the government’s ongoing ₱20-per-kilo rice program beginning next month, further expanding access to cheaper rice.

In a statement, the DA said it has “agreed in principle” with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to include minimum wage workers as present beneficiaries of the program.

Currently, the ₱20 rice is only available for underprivileged sectors—senior citizens, persons with disabilities (PWDs), solo parents, and members of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino program (4Ps).

On Tuesday, May 27, Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma met with Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel to discuss the proposal of including minimum wage earners in the subsidized rice program.

“We had a very good and fruitful discussion in our shared goal of helping our workers, particularly minimum wage earners. By including them in this rice program, we aim to improve their purchasing power,” said Laguesma.

Laurel, meanwhile, said the move to incorporate employees earning the minimum wage in the ₱20 rice initiative is aligned with the government’s efforts to scale and sustain the program through 2028.

“This initiative stems from the President’s promise to extend the ₱20 rice program to those who need it most,” he said.

Based on the agreement with the DOLE, Laurel said the workers who will benefit from the program is set to be limited to companies that have expressed interest.

He said eligible workers from participating companies will start having access to the cheap rice in June.

Earlier, the DA stated that it plans to expand the program to include low- to lower-middle-income families in the near future.

This is set to be preceded by the scheduled expansion into regions in Luzon and Mindanao, following the initial launch in Visayas.

The DA is planning to sustain the ₱20 rice until 2028, potentially covering up to 15 million households, or approximately 60 million Filipinos.