With his food security programs in full force, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said his administration’s goal to sell rice at PhP20 per kilo to the public nationwide is within reach.

On President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s orders, the government is set to expand its widely praised “Benteng Bigas, Meron Na” program under the Kadiwa ng Pangulo initiative, bringing more affordable rice to Filipino households nationwide.

Following President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to ensure affordable rice for Filipinos, the government has announced that one million sacks of milled rice are readily available for distribution through the Kadiwa ng Pangulo program.

The PhP20-per-kilo rice under the “Benteng Bigas Meron Na” (BBM) program is now available in many KADIWA outlets in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s goals to ensure food security, accessibility and affordability.

Malacañang on Wednesday announced that the “Benteng Bigas Meron Na” program, which offers rice at just PhP20 per kilo, is now available nationwide through newly opened KADIWA centers.

The government tripled the supply of the PhP29 per kilo of rice for the poor and vulnerable households in Kadiwa stores, an official of the National Food Authority (NFA) said.

The government aims to set up 1,500 Kadiwa stores nationwide by 2028, Presidential Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said Monday.

Market rice retailers started lowering prices following the successful implementation of the Kadiwa ng Pangulo “Rice-for-All” program across Metro Manila, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA).

The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Saturday revealed they are balancing efforts to ensure affordable rice in local markets and decent income for farmers.

More Kadiwa ng Pangulo trade centers are expected to be established by the government to give Filipinos further access to the P40 per kilo rice, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA).