Nerma Zamora, 72, from Barangay Poblacion in Lingayen, Pangasinan, shows the cooked rice she bought at P20/kg rice from the ‘Benteng Bigas, Meron Na!’ on Thursday (May 22, 2025). The second round of the sale of the affordable rice was held in Lingayen for the vulnerable sector. (Photo by Hilda Austria)
MALASIQUI, Pangasinan — Members of the vulnerable sector in Pangasinan have praised the quality and affordability of rice sold at P20 per kilogram under the “Benteng Bigas,
Meron Na!” rice program, which held its second distribution in Lingayen town on Thursday.
Nerma Zamora, 72, a resident of Barangay Poblacion, expressed her satisfaction with the rice’s quality.
“It has no odor. I used to add pandan to remove the smell, but this one cooks well and is easy to prepare. I will definitely line up again because it’s affordable and of good quality,” Zamora said in Filipino.
A mother of four, Zamora shared that she was able to buy a month’s worth of rice on a limited budget.
“This is a big help for us. Thank you so much, Mr. President. Life is hard now —we no longer have a source of income and depend on our children.”
Jovelyn Fernandez, 35, a Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiary from Barangay Namulan, also welcomed the program’s return.
“It’s just PHP20 and the rice is of good quality. We already tried it before, so we queued up again,” Fernandez said.
Meanwhile, Rodolf dela Cruz, 42, a person with disability from Barangay Libsong West, thanked President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for fulfilling his promise.
“Job well done. He kept his promise. I hope it continues,” he said.
Municipal agriculturist Rodolfo dela Cruz, in an interview on Thursday, said they are targeting sectors such as senior citizens, persons with disabilities, solo parents, and 4Ps members as initial beneficiaries.
He said a total of 100 sacks are available Thursday.
“The Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office has the masterlist of the vulnerable sector and they need to bring identification cards as proof that they are qualified beneficiaries,” he said.
He added the local government continues to request additional rice allocations to sustain the program, which is part of the national Kadiwa ng Pangulo initiative. (PNA)