'BENTENG BIGAS' HERE TO STAY - PBBM

President Marcos reaffirmed that the government's P20 per kilo rice program, dubbed "Benteng Bigas, Meron Na", is not a one-off rollout, but a sustainable initiative that will expand nationwide with the support of local government units.

- By ARGYLL GEDUCOS

"Tuloy-tuloy na po ito (This will continue)," the President said in his vlog released on Sunday, July 6.

"Twenty-peso rice is here to stay. It is achievable. It is sustainable," he added.

Marcos said the program, now available in select Kadi-wa stores and public markets, provides affordable and quality rice, especially to vulnerable sectors.

"Parami nang parami na ang ating mga location... sa pagtutulungan ng maraming ahensya ng national government at ng local government (We are adding more and more locations... through the cooperation of many national government agencies and local government)," he said.

Farmgate price

Meanwhile, the President also dispelled concerns that the low price of rice would drive down the farmgate prices of palay.

"Hindi po totoo 'yan. Meron po tayong minimum buying price (That's not true. We have a minimum buying price)," he said, citing current rates set by the National Food Authority (NFA): P18 per kilo for wet palay, and P19 to P23 for dried palay.