“Watch me sustain it.” This was President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s firm response regarding the PHP20 per kilo rice initiative dubbed the “Benteng Bigas Meron (BBM) Na” Program, as he welcomed public support over its rollout.
In a media interview before leaving Kuala Lumpur, Marcos said the government is negotiating with other countries to keep rice prices low until the end of his term in 2028.
“We’re making deals with different countries para ‘yung presyo mapako na, na hindi pabago-bago. Kahit anong mangyari down the road, nagawa na ngayon natin. Wala tayong ganoon noon eh. Ngayon mayroon na. Kaya’t kaya na nating gawin ‘yung PHP20,” he explained.
The President said the current system and global conditions now allow the government to offer rice at PHP20 per kilo, something that was previously not feasible.
“And then, we’ll talk in May of 2028, natuloy ba o hindi. We found a way. We found a way to do it. We found a way to do it. We could not do it before. Hindi kaya kasi hindi pa kaya ng sistema. Iba pa ‘yung presyo ng bigas noon,” he added.
He acknowledged that some are skeptical about the program’s sustainability, but clarified the goal is not just for show.
“[The Department of Agriculture or] DA is able to sell rice. The price has come down. But at the same time, on the other side, tinitiyak natin na ang pambili, ‘yung pagbili – ang presyo ng pagbili sa farmers ay magandang presyo naman para naman ‘yung farmers natin, maganda ang kanilang hanapbuhay,” he said.
The program currently benefits vulnerable sectors such as members of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and solo parents. There are 38 Kadiwa ng Pangulo sites in Metro Manila, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, and Mimaropa offering the discounted rice.
Sixteen local government units in Cebu have also started rolling out the program.
The initiative will be expanded in phases. Phase 1 includes various provinces in Visayas, while Phase 2, set for July, will cover parts of Mindanao and the Bicol Region. Phase 3 will extend to Sultan Kudarat, Lanao del Norte, Catanduanes, Agusan del Sur, Sarangani, and Dinagat Islands.
The Department of Agriculture also announced that minimum wage earners may soon be included in the program’s beneficiaries.