The Philippine government’s ₱20 Rice Project has distributed over 121,000 metric tons of subsidized rice within roughly a year, generating ₱2.4 billion in sales and offering financial relief to around 12.1 million citizens.
According to Department of Agriculture (DA) data spanning July 2022 to July 20, the broader Kadiwa ng Pangulo initiative has logged ₱4.42 billion in total revenues across 22,178 pop-up and retail events nationwide, serving over 12 million shoppers.
Introduced in May 2025, the Benteng Bigas, Meron Na! campaign target-supplies heavily discounted rice to marginalized sectors, including senior citizens, PWDs, single parents, minimum-wage earners, transport workers, low-income households, and registered agricultural workers.
Rising inflation and cost-of-living pressures have driven strong public uptake, resulting in 121,271 metric tons sold to approximately 12.1 million targeted recipients.
To meet demand, the Benteng Bigas distribution network has grown to 805 sites, bringing the ₱20 rice initiative to 57 provinces, alongside 827 permanent Kadiwa hubs across the country.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. highlighted how connecting growers directly to buyers lowers retail prices while raising farm incomes:
“Kadiwa is proving that a stronger market for our farmers translates into more affordable food for Filipino families. By shortening the value chain, we reduce unnecessary costs while ensuring farmers earn more from what they produce,” Tiu Laurel said.
The program has broadened into a comprehensive supply chain strategy, with the DA accrediting 187 suppliers and consolidators to link agricultural producers directly with retail markets, bypassing traditional middlemen.
Assistant Secretary Genevieve Velicaria-Guevarra, head of the DA Agribusiness, Marketing and Consumer Affairs office overseeing the program, emphasized its role in national food policy:
“Every bag of rice sold under the ₱20 Project represents more than affordability, it symbolizes the government’s commitment to ensuring that no Filipino is left behind while creating stronger, more resilient markets for our agricultural sector. As Kadiwa continues to expand nationwide, we remain steadfast in our mission of making quality food accessible, empowering producers, and bringing the benefits of agricultural development directly to our consumers,” Guevarra added.