The Department of Agriculture (DA) will roll out a new system today to more easily track people included in the P20/kilo rice program. They will create a centralized master list to better identify beneficiaries and ensure that rice farmers receive the right assistance at the right time.
According to the DA, the “P20 Benteng Bigas” program, which was first launched in 13 provinces, has now been expanded to 81 provinces nationwide. Eligible groups include senior citizens, solo parents, PWDs, 4Ps recipients, farmers, fisherfolk, minimum wage earners, and transport workers. President Marcos ordered that this program continue until June 2028 to reach 15 million Filipino families.
The country's rice stocks stood at 2.35 million metric tons as of Oct. 1, according to the PSA—up 3.2% from last year. The DA is also completing 27 new rice processing facilities before the end of the year using funds from the P30-billion Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund, to help small rice farmers and improve the drying and milling process.
