President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said that the government can sustain the Benteng Bigas Meron Na program due to agricultural reforms, but anticipates decreased subsidies to the program eventually due to increased rice production.

“Habang ‘yung production natin gumaganda, bababa nang bababa ‘yan (subsidy),” President Marcos said in the BBM Podcast Episode 3 aired on Wednesday.

“Naabot na natin ‘yung punto na masabi natin, ‘O kaya na natin ito. We can afford it. We can afford the subsidy,” the President added.

While the subsidy is expected to decrease, the President said that the coverage of the Benteng Bigas program will expand to ensure that more sectors of the population can access the staple food at PhP20 per kilo.

The Marcos administration has implemented programs and reforms to help farmers increase production by reducing the cost of farming inputs, among other expenses.

The government also brought down the price of rice to PhP20 per kilo by addressing smuggling and hoarding, as well as providing farmers with machinery and equipment.

The administration has also empowered farmers through the agrarian reform program by fast-tracking the distribution of certificates of land ownership award (CLOAs).

President Marcos said the country has experienced a significant bumper crop production in the last planting seasons due to the agricultural reforms.

“Noong bago kaming upo, wala pa lahat ‘yan. So, sa nakaraang tatlong taon, ginagawa na ngayon namin. Ngayon, may kakayahan na tayo,” President Marcos said. | PND