THE Department of Agriculture (DA) on Sunday said the P20-per-kilogram (kg) rice program known as Benteng Bigas Meron Na! will be available to workers at the Clark Freeport and Special Economic Zone starting Dec. 1.
Over 150,000 employees may benefit from the program, which is a partnership with the Clark Development Corp. (CDC) and part of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to provide accessible and affordable food for Filipino workers.
Labor Secretary Bienvido Laguesma is expected to attend the program’s launch at Clark, which coincides with the government’s Pamaskong Handog para sa mga Manggagawa campaign.
The rice will be sold through Kadiwa ng Pangulo outlets in the ecozone. Farmers, cooperatives, and government agencies are integrated into the supply chain.
The DA said the program is anchored on its Zero-Kilometer Food System, which advocates for the production, processing, and sale of food within local areas to ensure freshness and reduce transport costs.
“By strengthening local food systems, we are not only protecting our workers’ welfare but also empowering our farmers nationwide,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said, adding that similar rollouts in other economic zones and strategic agricultural and fisheries development zones nationwide are being studied.
CDC president and CEO Agnes Devanadera welcomed the partnership, noting the diverse workforce and expanding investor base in Clark are ideal conditions for the program’s pilot run.
“This partnership is a concrete step toward inclusive growth,” Devanadera said. “When we bring food closer to the workplace, we bring dignity and stability to the everyday lives of our workers.”
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