Philippines Extends Affordable Rice Program to Fisherfolk, Targets Millions More Households
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Manila, Philippines – The โDepartment of Agriculture (DA) will broaden the reach of its P20 per kilogram (kg) rice program, โofficially known as “Benteng Bigas Meron Na!” (BBM Na!),โ to include the nation’s fisherfolk by โคthe end of this month.This strategic expansion aims to provide affordable rice access to a vital sector of the Philippine population.
Program Details andโ eligibility
eligible fisherfolk will โbe able to purchase up to 10 kilograms of rice per month. The program โขwill initially launch at fish ports operated by the Philippine Fisheries progress Authority (PFDA). Following thisโค initial phase, weekly rollouts are planned across โprovinces with active National Food Authority (NFA) depots, continuing until the โend of 2025. This phased approach ensuresโ efficient distribution โand accessibility.
The DA estimates that approximately 2.9 million fisherfolk will benefit from this expansion. Theโค program originally targeted senior citizens, persons with disabilities, solo parents, and beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps). It โhas senceโข been extended to include minimum โwage earners, recipients of the Department ofโ social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Walang Gutom program, and farmers and farmworkers registered with the DA’s Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture.
did You Know? The Pantawid โPamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps)โ is a conditional cash transfer program aimed atโฃ reducing poverty โand improving the health and educationโค of the poorest families in theโข Philippines. [DSWD 4Ps Program]
Current Reach and Future Goals
Currently, the program serves โคnearly โฃ400,000 families nationwide. Agricultureโค Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. โdescribed scalingโ up the P20 program โฃas โthe DA’s “biggest challenge,” with a goal to reach 15 million households, representing around 60 million individuals, byโ 2026. Achieving this ambitiousโค target requires a coordinated โคeffort across the โฃentire agency.
“We have the โฃstocks. We have โฃthe budget. What we need nowโค is urgency and unity,” Secretary Tiu Laurel stated, highlighting a proposed P10-billion increase in funding for the rice program within the 2026 national budget.โ This increased investment underscores the government’s commitment to โฃfood security and affordability.
| Programโ Component | Details |
|---|---|
| Program Name | Benteng Bigas Meron โขNa! (BBM Na!) |
| rice Price | P20โ per kilogram |
| Initial โTarget Beneficiaries (Fisherfolk) | 2.9 million |
| Overall Target (by 2026) | 15 million households / 60 โmillion individuals |
| Budget Increase (Proposed 2026) | P10 billion |
Public Response and Presidential Support
Despite some criticism, Secretary Tiu Laurelโ asserts that โฃthe initiative has โgarnered significant public support. “Some called it insulting,” he acknowledged, “But on the โคground, โฃdemand [has] told a different story.” This suggests a strongโข need forโ affordable rice among the population.
President โฃFerdinand Marcos jr. has issued โa directive to the DA to maintain โthe P20/kg rice program until the end of his term โคin 2028, demonstrating the governance’s โlong-term commitment to food price stabilization. This sustained support is โฃcrucial for the program’s continued success.
Pro Tip: Understanding the role โขof โthe National Food Authority (NFA) is key to grasping the โฃPhilippines’โค food security โstrategies. The NFA isโค the primary government agencyโ responsible for โensuring the availability and affordability of staple foods. [National Food Authority Website]
What impact do youโ think this programโฃ will have on food security inโ the โPhilippines? How can similar initiatives be โimplemented in other countries facing food affordability challenges?
Context and Background: Food Security in the philippines
The Philippines,โค an archipelagic nation heavily reliantโ on agriculture and fisheries, consistently faces challenges related to food security. Factors such as climate change, import dependence, and fluctuating global prices contribute toโค vulnerability. The BBMโข Na! program represents a direct intervention to mitigate โthe impact ofโ rising riceโ costs on vulnerable populations. Rice is a staple food in the Philippines,โค and its affordability is a critical determinant of household welfare.According toโฃ the Food and agriculture Organization โof โฃthe United Nations (FAO), ensuring access to safe, โขnutritious, and sufficient food is a basic human right ([FAO Right to Food]). This program aligns with that principle.
frequently Asked Questions
- what is โฃthe โBenteng Bigas Meronโ Na! program? It’s โa governmentโค initiative offering โrice at P20 per โkilogram to eligible beneficiaries.
- Who is eligible for โขthe BBM Na! program? Initially,โ it included seniorโค citizens, PWDs, โฃsolo parents,โ and 4Ps beneficiaries, but now includes minimum wage earners, Walang Gutom recipients, โand farmers/farmworkers.
- How much rice can fisherfolkโ purchase? โขEligible fisherfolk can buyโ up to 10 kilogramsโ of rice per month.
- What is โthe DA’s long-term goal for this program? The DA aims to reach 15 million householdsโ (around 60 million individuals) by 2026.
- Is the program facing any criticism? while some have criticized the program, the DA reports strong public demandโฃ and support.
We hope this article has provided valuable insight into the Philippines’ โefforts to ensure food security. Share this informationโค with โyour network and join โthe conversation in the comments below! subscribe to our newsletterโ for more breaking news and in-depth analysis.
