Workers load sacks of rice onto a truck at the National Food Authority’s Balagtas Warehouse 3 in Bulacan on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, for delivery to various Kadiwa stores in the province. The activity is part of the Department of Agriculture’s “P20 Benteng Bigas Meron Na Para sa Magsasaka” program, which aims to provide affordable rice to consumers while supporting local farmers amid rising prices of basic commodities. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News
MANILA -- There is plenty of stock left for the P20 per kilo rice program even with the inclusion of rice farmers as beneficiaries, according to Department of Agriculture (DA) Assistant Secretary for Agribusiness, Marketing, and Consumer Affairs Genevieve Velicaria-Guevarra.
Velicaria-Guevarra also said the program was “sustainable” and can still be expanded to include more beneficiaries.
“Definitely po kahit sinimulan na natin nitong Mayo ‘yung ating pamamahagi o pagbebenta ng P20 sa ating vulnerable sectors tapos sinunod po natin dito ‘yung mga minimum wage earners, tapos ngayon naman po ‘yung ating mga magsasaka considering po marami pa po tayong stocks,” Velicaria-Guevarra said in a televised interview on Thursday.
Aside from rice farmers, persons with disabilities (PWD), solo parents, 4Ps beneficiaries are also among groups eligible for the program.
“Nakikita naman po natin na sustainable po ito, at puwede pa po natin dagdagan ang puwede pang makinabang dito sa ating programa,” Velicaria-Guevarra said.
The DA official adds, they have around 300,000 to 400,000 metric tons of rice ready in National Food Authority (NFA) warehouses for the program.
In order to avail of the P20 rice, farmers must register under the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA).
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