Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. together with Mayor Francis Zamora and MMDA Chairman Romando Artes led the Metro Manila kick off ceremony of Metro Manila rollout of “Benteng Bigas, Meron Na!” on Friday held in San Juan City, signaling a broader expansion plan that will establish at least five P20-per-kilo rice outlets in every local government unit across the capital region.
“We are not just opening a P20 rice outlet. We are opening more opportunities for every Filipino family to buy quality rice at an affordable price,” said Tiu Laurel, framing the initiative as a concrete intervention rather than a short-term subsidy.
San Juan Mayor Zamora expressed full support for the expanded rollout of the P20 program and urged his fellow local executives to help facilitate its nationwide implementation, which is expected to benefit tens of millions of financially challenged Filipinos.
The initiative is being carried out in coordination with multiple agencies, including the Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service, Food Terminal Inc., the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority and participating LGUs. ### (Photos by Ian Roy Leaño, DA-AFID)
