Photo by: San Marcelino PIO
SAN MARCELINO, Zambales — Qualified residents of San Marcelino can buy rice at ₱20 per kilo following the formal launch of the government’s “Benteng Bigas Meron Na sa San Marcelino, Zambales” program on Oct. 15, 2026, at the Municipal Evacuation Center in Barangay Laoag.
The initiative is part of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s ₱20 Rice Program, which seeks to improve access to affordable rice and ease food expenses among eligible Filipino households.
Beneficiaries include senior citizens, solo parents, persons with disabilities (PWDs), Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries, farmers, fisherfolk, jeepney and tricycle drivers, minimum wage earners, and Department of Education (DepEd) teaching and non-teaching personnel.
Photo by: San Marcelino PIO
The Department of Agriculture (DA) Region III, through its Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD), led the launch in partnership with the National Food Authority (NFA), Food Terminal Inc. (FTI), and the municipal government of San Marcelino.
Municipal Agriculturist Remin Sardo said the Municipal Agriculture Office’s responsibilities extend beyond agricultural production to ensuring that affordable and sufficient food reaches households in need.
He said the program could help families cope with rising food costs, particularly the price of rice, a staple in Filipino households.
Mayor Elvis Ragadio Soria, meanwhile, highlighted the efforts of farmers and parents in ensuring that food is available on every family’s table. He said the initiative goes beyond selling rice at a lower price, emphasizing its role in supporting families’ access to affordable and quality food.
Also present during the launch were Sangguniang Bayan Member and Committee on Agriculture Chairperson Jose Gutierrez Jr., Sangguniang Bayan Member Louella Aquino, MD, and Sangguniang Bayan Member Earl B. Yap, MD.
Representatives from the implementing agencies included DA Region III AMAD Market Specialist Sophia Rem Dare, FTI Vice President for Corporate Affairs Atty. Oliver Dicdican, and NFA Pampanga Branch Manager Ferdinand Mocusi.
Qualified beneficiaries are expected to access the ₱20-per-kilo rice in the coming weeks, subject to the program’s allocation limits and implementing guidelines.
The initiative aims to help reduce household food expenses while supporting the government’s broader efforts to strengthen food security and recognize the role of farmers in sustaining the country’s rice supply.