The program has since reached all provinces in the country.
In a statement, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. has announced the expansion of the government’s P20-per-kilo rice program, with a province-wide rollout in Pangasinan scheduled for January.
The said rollout is part of the administration’s goal of its Benteng Bigas, Meron Na! reaching 15 million households by the end of 2026.
Initially targeting society’s most vulnerable sectors, the program is now set for a broader reach as per the Agriculture department.
The government has allocated P23 billion in 2026 to subsidize the P20 rice program, but the amount could decrease with the approval of pending legislation granting the National Food Authority (NFA) greater authority to manage rice supply and demand more efficiently.
Tiu Larel noted, “We started with the most vulnerable—4Ps beneficiaries, persons with disabilities, single parents, and senior citizens. Then we expanded to TODA members, farmers, fisherfolk, minimum-wage earners, teachers, and non-teaching personnel. Millions have already benefited.”
He then underscored the department’s goal, telling, “By 2026, our target is 15 million households, or roughly 60 million Filipinos.”
According to the DA, Pangasinan will serve as the pilot for the next phase, marking a shift from limited distribution to full provincial coverage.
“Once implemented, all eligible middle-income and lower-income households in the province will be able to purchase rice at P20 per kilo,” it furthered.
Following Pangasinan, the Department of Agriculture (DA) plans to expand the program to three cities in the Visayas and Mindanao—including Davao City—and six additional provinces between January and February, with these prioritized based on available NFA stocks and logistical readiness.
The January–February phase of the expansion alone is projected to cover around 780,000 households, or approximately 3.2 million Filipinos.
To sustain momentum, the DA will be releaskng a weekly implementation schedule covering the entire year. Purchase limits will also remain in place to manage supply.
Senior citizens will continue to be allowed up to 30 kilos per month, while other beneficiaries will be capped at 10 kilos.
“There are real bottlenecks—supply, transport, and distribution. This is especially true if we scale up further or if the President wants to increase volumes,” added Tiu Laurel.
As most rice will be sourced from the NFA, this will present challenges in delivering stocks to remote and island communities, more especially in those without NFA warehouses.
The expansion will require additional trucks, drivers, cashiers, and close coordination with local governments to control costs and ensure accountability.
Beneficiaries will be required to register via QR codes to streamline distribution and auditing. “At the end of the day, we must answer to COA,” the DA chief added.
Distribution is said to make use of the existing 740 Kadiwa ng Pangulo stores, public markets, and LGU-run outlets nationwide, with a target of at least one access point per municipality.
By 2028, the government is looking to expand the Kadiwa stores to 3,000 outlets nationwide.