This will prioritize members of the vulnerable sectors.
Last Wednesday, February 11, the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) convened a Technical Working Group meeting with Metro Manila local government units to fast-track and harmonize implementation of the expanded Benteng Bigas Meron Na program.
Also known as the P20 rice program, the initiative will begin to be brought further to give access to more members of priority sectors.
The list includes senior citizens, solo parents, persons with disabilities, Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries, minimum wage earners, members of Tricycle Operators and Drivers Associations, farmers, fisherfolk, and other qualified groups.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel said, “The DA envisions establishing at least five P20 ‘Benteng Bigas’ outlets in every LGU in Metro Manila. Our goal is simple: bring affordable rice closer to our constituents and ensure vulnerable sectors are directly served. This expansion underscores our firm commitment to food security and to easing the financial burden on Filipino families.”
The DA’s Office of the Assistant Secretary for Agribusiness, Marketing, and Consumer Affairs and the Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service (DA-AMAS) are targeting the full-scale expansion by end-March 2026.
The DA said that the date was chosen to align with the start of peak harvest season in several rice-producing provinces. Thus, there will be higher palay output expected to enter the market.
AMAS Director Junibert De Sagun told, “We are preparing for full-scale expansion by the end of March. Close coordination with LGUs and DA-FTI is critical to ensure efficient distribution and sustained supply of P20 rice.”
The MMDA has since pledged logistical and monitoring support, with its Chairman Romando Artes assuring that their team will actively track LGU compliance to ensure broader reach.
“This is a shared responsibility (and) affordable rice must reach as many Metro Manila families as possible,” he said.
In 2026, the DA targets to reach a total of 15 million households nationwide, ranging from lower middle income to financially-challenged.
The P20 rice program is also expected to decongest warehouses of National Food Authority (NFA) to make room for fresh stocks while addressing temporary supply gaps caused by delayed rice imports.