DA continues to deliver P20 per kilo of rice in Bacuag, Surigao Norte
By Susil D. Ragas
SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte (PIA) — In partnership with the local government unit of Bacuag, Surigao del Norte, residents benefited from affordable rice during its recent distribution of P20 rice selling activity at the municipal gymnasium in Bacuag, Surigao del Norte.
Among the beneficiaries was 4Ps member Nelia Cusare, who bought 10 kilograms of rice for P200 only.
“With current rice prices being so high, this is a huge help to my family. I am grateful to President Bongbong Marcos for bringing affordable rice here in Bacuag,” Cusare said.
About 1,000 bags of rice were prepared for the town’s 5,000 target beneficiaries. Those allowed to purchase were senior citizens, persons with disabilities, solo parents, Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries, drivers, farmers, and fisherfolk.
’Benteng Bigas, Meron Na!’ is one of the government’s initiatives to improve access to lower-priced food by bringing it closer to sectors in need. This is also a flagship national social welfare and food security initiative rolled out by the Department of Agriculture (DA), together with the National Food Authority (NFA) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE). It fulfils President Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s key pledge to bring down the price of staple rice to P20 per kilogram for vulnerable communities.
To prevent commercial exploitation and ensure the subsidy reaches those who need it most, purchasing is restricted to low-income and vulnerable groups, including 4Ps household heads, senior citizens, PWDs, solo parents, minimum wage earners, registered farmers, fisherfolk, and public transport operators and drivers.
The rice sold under this initiative comes directly from local farmers, through the National Food Authority (NFA), and partner agricultural cooperatives, such as the National Irrigation Administration support program. This dual-purpose mechanism ensures smallholder farmers receive fair farmgate prices while consumers are shielded from inflation in public markets. (SDR, PIA Surigao del Norte with a report from DA Caraga)
