By Emma Joyce F. Guillermo

LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte (PIA) – Farmers in Ilocos Norte can now buy rice for only P20 per kilo under the government’s “Benteng Bigas Meron Na” program, marking the first time in the Ilocos Region that farmers became its direct beneficiaries.

The program, jointly implemented by the National Food Authority (NFA) and the Department of Agriculture (DA), was launched nationwide earlier this year in select provinces. 

In Ilocos Norte, the rollout began on August 20, giving small farmers access to affordable rice as part of the administration’s effort to ease living costs and ensure food security.

How the program works

Qualified farmers—those registered in the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) and owning two hectares of farmland or less—may buy up to 10 kilograms of rice per month, with a total allocation of 50 kilograms over five months. 

Farm workers are also eligible.

To claim rice, farmers must present their RSBSA ID, quick response (QR) code, or any valid government-issued ID at the NFA Provincial Office on Gomburza and Novales Streets, Laoag City.

NFA–Ilocos Norte Manager Jonathan Corpuz said the program not only helps farmers afford food for their families but also strengthens local grain supply. 

“This is the government’s way of thanking you for your hard work in keeping our country fed. With 57,000 bags of rice now in our provincial stock, we are confident the program can be sustained,” Corpuz said. 

The supply comes largely from the NFA’s palay procurement program, where local farmers sell their harvest directly to the government.

DA market specialist Corazon Valdez explained that Ilocos Norte is leading the region in extending the program to farmers. 

“Other provinces in the region have rolled out the P20 rice program earlier, but Ilocos Norte is the first to make farmers themselves the beneficiaries. We are prioritizing smallholders with two hectares or less, but larger farmers may be accommodated in the future,” she said.  

In just two days after the launch, 159 bags of rice—each weighing 50 kilograms—were sold to 189 farmer beneficiaries.  

The program’s price is significantly lower than the prevailing market price, which often ranges between P42 and P48 per kilo, providing meaningful savings for rural households.

Farmers welcome relief 

Many beneficiaries expressed gratitude for the government initiative.

“We are truly grateful for this program of the President. I hope it continues for as long as he is in office because it can help many people,” said Franklin Corpuz, a farmer from Barangay 40 Balatong, Laoag City. 

“This program is truly beneficial, especially for those of us who often lack food,” added Reynold Malapira, a farm worker from Barangay Suyo. 

Fe Duldulao from Barangay 49 Darayday called the rice subsidy “a great help to farmers and others in need of affordable food.” 

Looking ahead 

The “Benteng Bigas Meron Na” program is expected to expand to other sectors in the province and beyond.  

Officials are studying how to maintain stable rice stocks and widen coverage to include more farmers and rural workers.

For now, Ilocos Norte’s farmers are seeing immediate relief—proof, they say, that government support can reach even the smallest producers. (AMB/EJFG, PIA Ilocos Norte)

Published Date: August 25, 2025