DA: 1 million Pinoys availed of P20 rice

Individuals buy a P20 per kilo imported rice from Vietnam at a store in in Baseco, Tondo on January 24, 2026.

STAR / Edd Gumban

MANILA, Philippines — More than 900,000 Filipinos have purchased the P20 per kilo rice from the government in September, according to the Department of Agriculture yesterday.

DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said 961,346 Filipinos purchased 21.4 million kilos of the P20 rice, an increase from the April data of 838,695 buyers.

He said this is the highest monthly turnout since the Benteng Bigas, Meron Na! initiative was launched in May 2025.

Tiu Laurel said the affordable rice program has helped more than 5.6 million Filipinos from January to September while supporting local farmers.

Data from the DA showed 135.98 million kilos of rice were sold since the start of the year in Kadiwa stores.

“If each beneficiary represents an average Filipino household, this means around 22.4 million have been fed by the P20 rice program,” Tiu Laurel said.

The DA said the initiative eased food costs for households as rice takes a nine percent share in an average Filipino household’s budget.

President Marcos said he wants to sustain the affordable rice program until he steps down from his post in June 2028.