President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Sunday, June 8, assured the public that the government’s Benteng Bigas Meron Na program, which offers rice at P20 per kilo, is sustainable.
“Marami pa rin ang nagdududa kung paano masu-sustain o patatagalin itong 20 peso rice na ito. ‘May stock ba tayo ng bigas? Kaya ba ito bayaran ng gobyerno?” Marcos Jr. said in his vlog, BBMVLOG #270: Mga Pagbabago.
“Masu-sustain po natin ‘yan basta nagtutulungan ang lahat. Ang sisiguruhin natin ay hindi mawawalan ng abot-kayang bigas ang ating mga kababayan.”
The program is being implemented nationwide through Kadiwa ng Pangulo outlets, offering low-cost rice to 4Ps beneficiaries, senior citizens, PWDs, and solo parents. It fulfills the President’s campaign promise to make rice affordable while continuing support for farmers to keep local production stable.
In his vlog, beneficiaries shared how the program helps them feed their families.
“Napakalaking bagay po nito lalo na po sa mga mahihirap po nating mga kababayan. Ang 20 pesos po ay malaking bagay. Kami ay sobra-sobra po talagang nagagalak,” one woman said.
Another added: “Masyadong masaya ako kasi maraming nangarap niyan. Malaking bagay po ‘yan.”
A third said: “Pinaparating ko po ‘yung aking buong-pusong pasasalamat sa ganitong programa na inyo pong itinayo.”
