By: Joey A. Gabieta – Correspondent / @joeygabietaINQ

TACLOBAN CITY — The Department of Agriculture (DA) in Eastern Visayas has expanded its flagship food security initiative, “Benteng Bigas Meron Na!” to the provinces of Samar and Northern Samar, bringing affordable rice closer to economically vulnerable households.

In Samar, the provincial launch was held on Dec. 4 in Jiabong, while Northern Samar hosted its event on December 8 in Catarman. On both occasions, 400 bags of locally sourced rice were distributed to 2,000 beneficiaries, each entitled to purchase 10 kilograms of rice at the subsidized price of P20 per kilo.

The initial beneficiaries were members of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), senior citizens, solo parents, persons with disabilities, and indigenous communities.

“This program fulfills the administration’s promise of rice for all — affordable, available, and of good quality,” said Francis Rosaroso, chief of the Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD) of DA-8.

He added that DA intends for all provincial governments in the region to adopt and implement the P20-per-kilogram rice program in their respective areas.

Apart from Samar and Northern Samar, the program is already in effect in Leyte and Eastern Samar. At the same time, Biliran and Southern Leyte are set to launch the initiative at the provincial level.

For these areas, beneficiaries can still access subsidized rice through National Food Authority (NFA) branches, which serve walk-in clients, Rosaroso said.

Benteng Bigas Meron Na! is a flagship program of the Marcos administration designed to make rice affordable for low-income Filipinos. The rice sold under the program is supplied by the NFA, often sourced from local farmers, supporting domestic agriculture while stabilizing staple food prices.

The initiative addresses rising inflation and food costs, easing the financial burden on vulnerable households. At the same time, it ensures stable demand for rice producers by guaranteeing fair farm-gate prices for palay (unhusked rice), promoting both food security and farmer welfare.

The program is implemented through outlets in public markets, retail sites, and Kadiwa ng Pangulo stores, which are jointly managed by DA, NFA, local governments, and partner organizations. It forms part of the broader Marcos administration push for “Masaganang Bagong Pilipinas,” which aims to strengthen food security, agricultural sustainability, and social welfare nationwide./coa

Published Date: December 8, 2025