Public school teachers and other school staff are now part of the government’s P20-per-kilo rice program. Officials confirmed the expansion on Friday.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Education (DepEd) signed a memorandum of understanding during the Kadiwa ng Pangulo Expo in Intramuros to make the inclusion official.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said about 800,000 teachers and non-teaching personnel will gain access to the cheaper rice. He added that the first rollout will focus on remote areas, starting with some islands in Camarines Sur and Romblon.
DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara welcomed the move, noting it will ease the burden on teachers, especially those in far-flung communities.
Before this expansion, transport workers were already included in the program. The DA also launched an online registry system this week, allowing beneficiaries to sign up and get a QR code for smoother transactions when buying discounted rice.