DAVAO CITY (June 16) — The Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) have officially rolled out the nationwide expansion of an initiative that allows minimum wage earners to buy rice at ₱20 per kilo — a key campaign promise of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. aimed at easing the daily burden on the country’s most vulnerable workers.
“This isn’t just about rice — it’s about dignity. It’s about proving that the government can deliver for Filipinos who need it most,” said Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. during the launch on Friday. “We are fulfilling President Marcos’ promise of affordable food, subsidized for now, but ideally self-sustaining in the future through agricultural modernization.”
Labor Secretary Bienvenido E. Laguesma echoed the commitment, emphasizing the tangible impact on a minimum wage earner’s household budget.
“Yun naman ang gusto ng ating Pangulong Bongbong Marcos Jr., na ang lahat ay makinabang… Napakalaking bagay kung ang isang minimum wage earner ay makakabili rin ng bigas na P20 per kilo. Kung sampung kilo ang pwedeng bilhin… mayroon siyang P100 o P200 na pwede niyang i-ukol sa iba pang mga bilihin,” Laguesma said. (That is what President Marcos wants, that everyone benefits. It means so much for a minimum wage earner to access ₱20 rice. If he can buy 10 kilos, he saves ₱100 or ₱200 for other essentials.)
DOLE estimates that nearly 120,000 minimum wage earners from over 500 companies nationwide will benefit in the initial rollout, with numbers expected to grow as more employers partner with the program.
Branded as “Benteng Bigas, Meron Na!”, the program debuted in Cebu on May 1, Labor Day. The rice is sourced from local farmers through stocks purchased by the National Food Authority (NFA). While currently in its pilot phase through December, the program is designed to eventually serve up to 14 million Filipinos, prioritizing vulnerable groups such as solo parents, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and indigent families.
President Marcos has ordered the DA to ensure the program’s sustainability and scale until the end of his term in 2028. Lawmakers have publicly backed the initiative, with supporters projecting it could benefit as many as 60 million Filipinos in the long term.
Despite concerns from some economic analysts about market disruptions and subsidy sustainability, many low-income workers see the P20 rice program as a powerful symbol of relief and long-awaited economic justice.
Edith Z Caduaya studied Bachelor of Science in Development Communication at the University of Southern Mindanao.
The chairperson of Mindanao Independent Press Council (MIPC) Inc.
