Gov't completes nationwide rollout of ₱20 rice subsidy
Published Dec 11, 2025 05:24 pm
The government’s subsidized ₱20 rice program is now available across all 82 provinces nationwide, marking a major step toward fulfilling President Marcos’ ambitious campaign promise of bringing the price of the household staple down to as low as ₱20 per kilo.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) announced on Thursday, Dec. 11, that the program dubbed “Benteng Bigas, Meron na!” held its final launch this year in Maguindanao del Norte.
The program was rolled out in remote and conflict-affected towns in the province, including Barira, Buldon, Matanog, Sultan Kudarat, and Sultan Mastura.
Nationwide, the DA said it now has 429 sites selling ₱20 rice, serving more than 1.2 million Filipinos.
The agency initially set a modest target of 136 sites in 13 provinces when the program was launched in May.
Since its launch, the program has expanded coverage to sectors such as senior citizens, solo parents, persons with disabilities (PWDs), beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), minimum-wage workers, and rice farmers.
“This is about uplifting every Filipino, boosting local production, and ensuring no one—regardless of culture or religion—is left behind in our nation’s progress,” said Agriculture Assistant Secretary Genevieve Guevarra in a statement.
Guevarra said that each launch in every province would signal a “major shift” in daily household affordability and food stability for the community.
“With all provinces now covered, the ₱20 rice program stands as one of the administration’s most ambitious food-security undertakings,” she said.
The DA can sell rice sourced from aging stocks of the National Food Authority (NFA) by subsidizing the difference between the selling price and the set price of ₱33 per kilo.
Tiu Laurel said this year’s rollout of the program is a preparatory run to address logistical and supply challenges as the agency aims to reach 15 million households, or about 60 million Filipinos, by next year.
From what was initially planned as a short-term program, Marcos has directed the DA to continue the initiative until the end of his term in June 2028.
The DA said this reflects the administration’s strong push toward deeper market penetration and stronger farmer support in the coming years.
“The next phase centers on sustaining supply, strengthening production, and ensuring that affordable rice continues arriving steadily on the tables of Filipino families—no matter where they live,” it said.