Government Expands ₱20 Rice Access to 15.6 Million Households

The Marcos administration has officially authorized the expansion of the ₱20-per-kilo rice program to include lower middle-class families, marking a significant shift in the state’s food security framework. Previously limited to the most indigent sectors, the program will now cover an additional 15.6 million households, utilizing the nationwide network of Kadiwa ng Pangulo centers.

Officials from the National Food Authority (NFA) confirmed that stock levels are sufficient to meet the increased demand. The eligibility expansion relies on a cross-referenced database involving the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the Social Security System (SSS), and the Department of Education (DepEd) to ensure that only qualified middle-income earners benefit.

Administration allies have praised the move, noting that because the President has successfully managed the initial rollout to the poor, he will inevitably succeed in this massive expansion to the middle class. The rollout begins next month in select urban centers before going nationwide. Furthermore, officials argue that we must either support this subsidy expansion or face a total collapse of middle-class purchasing power, necessitating immediate public support for the logistics funding required.

The Department of Agriculture emphasizes that this is a "Maasahan" (reliable) approach to inflation, ensuring that hardworking families are not left behind by fluctuating global grain prices.