News Details

Nearly One Million Filipinos Benefit from ?20 Rice Program in First Seven Months

NPO

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December 14, 2025

MANILA – Nearly one million Filipinos nationwide have already benefited from the government’s “Benteng Bigas Meron (BBM) Na” program just seven months after its launch, the Department of Agriculture (DA) announced.

During the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City, DA Assistant Secretary Genevieve Guevarra reported that the ₱20-per-kilo rice initiative of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., which began in May, has reached close to 900,000 beneficiaries.

“Almost a million have benefited since we launched on May 13, 2025. Politically correct, more than 900,000,” Guevarra said.

She added that the DA is now working on modernizing the program’s registration system to ensure that the subsidized rice goes directly to qualified beneficiaries. The enhanced system will also allow better tracking of where and how often recipients purchase the ₱20 rice.

The agency is targeting to serve 15 million households under the program by 2026.

₱500 Noche Buena Feasible

Guevarra also affirmed the Department of Trade and Industry’s estimate that a family can prepare Noche Buena for around ₱500, depending on the menu chosen.

“It’s possible for a household of five, but of course it depends on what they want to prepare,” she noted, citing prevailing prices such as pork at around ₱330 per kilo and chicken at ₱180 to ₱200 per kilo.

To further maximize their budget, she encouraged consumers to shop at Kadiwa stores, where prices are typically 20 to 30 percent lower due to direct farm-to-consumer transactions. While options may be more limited, she said the price advantage can significantly help households.

There are currently 740 Kadiwa stores and pop-up outlets operating across the country, with more than 100 maintaining regular operations.

— NPO News Team | PNA-PR