BAGUIO CITY– The Department of Agriculture in the Cordillera Administrative Region (DA-CAR) announced Thursday that 52,653 buyers from the vulnerable sector benefited from the government’s PHP20-per-kilo rice program across the region.
Data indicated that 1,227,090 kilograms of rice, or 24,542 sacks, were sold in CAR at PHP24,541,800 from July 16 to December 31, 2025.
There were 8,785 beneficiaries in Baguio City; 8,650 in Benguet; 15,578 in Mountain Province; 6,793 in Ifugao; 3,593 in Abra; 7,754 in Kalinga, and 1,500 in Apayao.
“We continue to provide the Benteng Bigas Meron Na (BBM) rice to avoid oversupply and long-term storage at the different National Food Authority (NFA) warehouses in the region, especially during the rice harvest season,” DA-CAR Director Jennilyn Dawayan said in an interview.
The affordable rice is sold to senior citizens, persons with disabilities (PWDs), and solo parents, among the identified vulnerable sectors of the society.
She noted that the rice is not just sold during President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s provincial visits but also during “Kadiwa ng Pangulo” activities and in Kadiwa stores.
The rice is bought from farmers at an acceptable price to ensure that those who till the soil can sell their produce at reasonable prices and that it reaches the public at low cost, with the government providing a subsidy.
The national government intends to make the PHP20 per kilo rice readily available to make sure that the vulnerable sectors are able to buy it anytime,” Dawayan, a lawyer, said.
Manding Manago, a 71-year-old tailor, has only good things to say about the program, noting that he can buy more high-quality rice for his family through the “Benteng Bigas Meron (BBM) Na” initiative.
“The rice tastes good, and more importantly, it is affordable. I only usually buy five kilos, but I am thankful I was able to buy 25 kilos, which I ate with my children for several weeks,” he said in Filipino during a separate interview on Thursday.
He said that his PHP500 used to buy only 10 kilos or less of rice, but with the BBM rice, he got a half sack, which was a treat for him and his family. **Liza Agoot
