SAN MARCELINO, Zambales — Senior citizens, solo parents, persons with disabilities, 4Ps beneficiaries, farmers, fisherfolk, drivers, minimum wage earners, and DepEd personnel here can buy rice at P20 per kilo in the coming weeks under a government program launched Oct. 15, at the municipal evacuation center in Barangay Laoag.
The “Benteng Bigas Meron Na sa San Marcelino, Zambales” initiative, part of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s P20 Rice Program, aims to ease household food expenses and improve access to affordable rice amid rising food costs.
The Department of Agriculture Region 3, through its Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD), led the launch in partnership with the National Food Authority, Food Terminal Inc., and the municipal government of San Marcelino.
Municipal agriculturist Remin Sardo said his office’s responsibilities extend beyond agricultural production to ensuring that affordable and sufficient food reaches households in need.
He said the program could help families cope with rising food costs, particularly the price of rice, a staple in Filipino households.
Mayor Elvis Ragadio Soria, meanwhile, highlighted the efforts of farmers and parents in ensuring that food is available on every family’s table. He said the initiative goes beyond selling rice at a lower price, emphasizing its role in supporting families’ access to affordable and quality food.
Also present during the launch were sangguniang bayan committee on agriculture chairperson Jose Gutierrez Jr., and SB members Louella Aquino, MD, and Earl B. Yap, MD.
Representatives from the implementing agencies included DA Region 3 AMAD market specialist Sophia Rem Dare, FTI vice president for corporate affairs Atty. Oliver Dicdican, and NFA Pampanga branch manager Ferdinand Mocusi.
Qualified beneficiaries are expected to access the P20-per-kilo rice in the coming weeks, subject to the program’s allocation limits and implementing guidelines.
The initiative aims to help reduce household food expenses while supporting the government’s broader efforts to strengthen food security and recognize the role of farmers in sustaining the country’s rice supply.