By Leilanie Adriano

LAOAG CITY – Registered farmers and fisherfolk availed of rice at PHP20 per kg. at the National Food Authority’s warehouse here Wednesday, during the formal launch of the national government’s affordable rice expanded program.

“Now, it can be said that the PHP20 per kilo rice, as promised by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., is for real,” said 58-year-old Adela Jacinto, a resident of Barangay Mangato B here, who shared her excitement after buying one 50-kg. bag of rice for PHP1,000 or PHP20 per kg.

As of noon, 124 farmers took advantage of the program and brought home 50 kg. each.

According to NFA-Ilocos Norte warehouse supervisor Emily Corpuz, they have prepared an initial 5,500 bags for this program, as promised by the President in his State of the Nation Address in July to expand the PHP20 per kg. rice program nationwide.

“Sa ating mga mahal na magsasaka, sana ay yakapin ninyo ang napakagandang programa na ito ng ating Pangulo. (To our beloved farmers, we hope that you embrace this superb program by our President),” NFA-Ilocos Norte branch manager Jonathan Corpuz said in an interview with the Philippine News Agency.

The government’s PHP20 per kg. rice project, called “Benteng Bigas Meron Na!,” was launched in the province on July 31, benefitting 265 minimum wage earners through an agreement with the Department of Labor and Employment, in collaboration with partner agencies and the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s chapters in Ilocos Norte and Laoag City.

This was followed by registered farmers and fisherfolk who began to participate in the program at the NFA-Laoag branch.

Corpuz said the PHP20 per kg. rice would be made available to target beneficiaries, particularly among farmers who can avail of 50 kg. per month.

NFA rice is currently priced at PHP29 per kg. However, beneficiaries under the program only pay PHP20 per kg., with the price difference covered by subsidies from the Department of Agriculture – Food Terminal, Inc. and local government units.

To date, the NFA-Laoag warehouse has 21,551 bags of rice and 26,782 bags of palay, which is sufficient for the next cropping season. 

(PNA)

Published Date: August 20, 2025