Northern Mindanao Launches Sale of ₱20 Rice for Minimum Wage Earners

DAVAO CITY (July 13) -National government agencies formally launched the sale of ₱20 per kilogram rice for minimum wage earners in Northern Mindanao on Friday, marking the start of a subsidy initiative designed to ease the burden of rising food costs for low-income workers.

In a statement, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Region 10 announced that the program—dubbed “Benteng Bigas”—begins with the release of 32,500 kilograms of rice allocated for organized labor groups across the region.

“The Benteng Bigas (₱20 rice) initiative aims to support minimum wage earners through organized labor unions under a food subsidy arrangement with Food Terminal Incorporated (FTI),” DOLE-10 said.

The National Food Authority (NFA) in Region 10 also confirmed that the Department of Agriculture maintains adequate rice buffer stocks in its warehouses, ensuring continued distribution throughout the program’s rollout.

One of the first recipients of the subsidy was the Cagayan Corn Products Independent Labor Union, whose representative Jesse Casinilio welcomed the program as a major relief for workers struggling with daily expenses.

“This initiative greatly eases the financial burden of our members, many of whom spend a large part of their income just to meet basic food needs,” Casinilio said during the ceremonial launch.

Officials say the program may expand to include more labor organizations and cooperatives in the coming weeks as supplies are stabilized and local demand is assessed.