By Gene V. Baquiran

Rice is a basic necessity in every Filipino home. For many, it is so essential that they would rather have no viand than have no rice on the table.

For a family of five living on a limited income, rice can take up a significant portion of the household budget.

And when families are already trying to stretch every peso for transportation, school expenses, utility bills, and other daily needs, saving even a few pesos on a basic necessity can make a meaningful difference.

This is where the government’s ‘Benteng Bigas, Meron Na!’ program comes in.

The program was launched in Cagayan on Sept. 9, led by Gov. Edgar Aglipay in partnership with the Department of Agriculture (DA), National Food Authority (NFA), and Food Terminal Inc. (FTI), offering rice at only P20 per kilogram.

For Josephine Ancheta of Tuguegarao City, the program provided immediate relief to her household budget. She purchased 10 kilograms of rice for P200, enough to feed her family for about 10 days.

“It is a big help,” Ancheta said, expressing her gratitude to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and the government for making affordable rice available to families like hers.

For Victoria Iringan, a teacher and one of the beneficiaries, the program came at an opportune time as families continue to cope with increasing daily expenses.

She said the affordable rice would help ease the financial burden on teachers and other workers, particularly during Teachers’ Month.

The initial rollout in Cagayan provided around 400 sacks or 20 metric tons of rice to more than 800 beneficiaries.

The first batch included teaching and non-teaching personnel from Tuguegarao City and nearby municipalities who had registered for the program, media members, and nearby farmers registered under the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA).

Under the program, each qualified beneficiary can purchase up to 10 kilograms of rice at P20 per kilogram per transaction after completing the DA’s online registration and securing a personal QR code.

Beneficiaries may purchase up to 30 kilograms per month until December, subject to program guidelines. They may also opt to purchase one 50-kilogram sack as a lump-sum equivalent of their five-month allocation.

The program prioritizes vulnerable sectors, including senior citizens, solo parents, persons with disabilities, beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, farmers, farmworkers, fisherfolk, jeepney and tricycle drivers, and minimum wage earners.

Farmers and farmworkers registered under the RSBSA and cultivating two hectares or less may also qualify, subject to the presentation of an Intervention Monitoring Card or valid identification and other requirements.

For Governor Aglipay, the initiative is more than just making rice affordable. It is a way of helping families manage their household expenses amid rising costs of basic goods.

He thanked the DA, NFA, FTI, and other partners for bringing the program to Cagayan and said the provincial government will work to expand its implementation to more municipalities.

Atty. Oliver Y. Dicdican, FTI vice president for Corporate Affairs, said the program will continue and eventually reach other vulnerable sectors across Cagayan Valley.

During the launch, participants were also allowed to taste cooked rice prepared from the program’s supply. Many expressed satisfaction with its taste and palatability.

For families like Ancheta’s, however, the value of the program goes beyond the quality of the rice.

Every kilogram bought at P20 means money saved for other necessities—transportation, school expenses, utility bills, or even a viand to put on the table.

In the end, ‘Benteng Bigas, Meron Na!’ is not simply about putting affordable rice in Filipino homes. It is about giving families a little more room in their budgets and a little more relief at the dining table. (OTB/GVB/PIA Region 2) 

Published Date: September 14, 2026