The government is expanding its ₱20 per kilo rice program to 32 additional Kadiwa Centers in provinces surrounding Metro Manila starting Thursday, Malacañang announced on Wednesday.
Palace Press Office Claire Castro said the initiative aligns with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to make affordable rice more accessible to Filipinos. She emphasized that the program is not politically motivated.
“Ito’y hindi lamang pang-eleksyon katulad ng sinasabi nila. Bukas na po ang ibang mga Kadiwa Centers natin para po sa bente pesos na bigas (This is not just for election purposes as some claim. Our Kadiwa Centers are now open to offer ₱20 rice),” she said in a press briefing.
The ₱20 rice will now be available in Kadiwa Centers across Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, and Mindoro. It has been available at select Kadiwa sites in Metro Manila since Tuesday.
The program, officially known as “Benteng Bigas Meron Na!” or BBM Na!, brings down rice prices through government subsidies, fulfilling a key campaign promise made by Marcos in 2022.
Originally launched on May 1 in Cebu and some parts of Metro Manila, the program was temporarily paused due to concerns from the Commission on Elections over possible violations of the assistance ban before the May 12 midterm elections.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. ordered the suspension to comply with election rules, but the rollout resumed after the polls concluded.