News Details

PBBM Rolls Out ?20 Rice Program in Bohol, Inaugurates Irrigation Project

NPO

•

September 6, 2025

MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday launched the “Benteng Bigas, Meron Na” program in Bien Unido, Bohol, making rice available to eligible Filipinos at ₱20 per kilo.

The pilot distribution is set to benefit some 2,700 residents, including senior citizens, solo parents, persons with disabilities (PWDs), Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries, farmers, fisherfolk, and minimum wage earners. The initiative is spearheaded by the Department of Agriculture (DA) as part of the administration’s push to make affordable rice accessible to vulnerable communities.

While in Bohol, the President also led the inauguration of the Calunasan Small Reservoir Irrigation Project (SRIP), a major infrastructure expected to boost agricultural productivity and support rice self-sufficiency in the province.
“Kasama lahat ‘yan dito sa ating pagpapatayo, pagpapalagay ng mga ganitong klaseng irrigation project para doon lumaki ang ating produksyon (These irrigation projects are part of our broader effort to increase local production),” Marcos said.

The Chief Executive likewise inspected the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation’s (PhilHealth) “Yaman ng Kalusugan Program” (YAKAP) Caravan at the Mandaug Elementary School in Calape town. Launched in July, YAKAP expands PhilHealth’s primary care package to cover additional medicines, essential drugs, more laboratory procedures, and cancer screening at accredited facilities.

Through these initiatives, the administration aims to ease the daily burden of Filipinos while investing in long-term solutions such as farm modernization, health security, and food self-sufficiency.

PNO News Team I PNA-PR