He also touted the program as “sustainable.”
In his new vlog entry uploaded on Sunday, July 6, entitled ‘Agrikultura,’ President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. shared the future plans for his Benteng Bigas Meron Na program.
Under which, rice is being sold at PHP20 per kilogram for select groups, such as indigent families, recipients of the 4Ps Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), senior citizens, persons with disability (PWDs), solo parents, and minimum wage earners.
According to PBBM, the program will be a fixture, adding that the national and local governmemt units have collaborated to make it sustainable in the long-term.
“Sa pagtutulungan ng maraming ahensya ng national government at ngayon in partnership with the local government, P20 rice is here to stay,” said Marcos.
He continued, “It is achievable, it is sustainable. Kaya abangan ninyo in your nearest public market.”
With this development, the government is eyeing to sell the PHP20 rice beyond the designated government outlets, but also make it available in most public markets.
“Hindi lamang po sa Kadiwa stores may P20 rice, kundi pati na rin sa mga palengke natin,” PBBM shared, adding that more locations are already in the horizon.
At present, the Benteng Bigas is available in 94 sites nationwide, with the latest outlet launched by President Marcos at the Zapote-Bacoor Public Market in Bacoor City, Cavite last Tuesday, July 1.
It was also previously disclosed that the government program aims to target 15 million Filipinos by 2026.