The Daily Tribune
Marcos marks birthday with expanded P20 rice push
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is marking his 68th birthday with a nationwide offering of P20-per-kilo rice through the "Benteng Bigas, Meron Na!" (BBM Na!) initiative, also known as "Handog ng Pangulo."
This special one-day program is available on September 13 in 100 Kadiwa ng Pangulo (KNP) sites and accredited stores from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. stated that the discounted rice is intended as President Marcos' birthday gift to the Filipino people.
Unlike previous phases, the P20 rice is accessible to all Filipinos with a valid ID, not just vulnerable sectors.
The initiative is projected to benefit approximately 88,000 households, or around 352,000 individuals.
The P20 per kilo rice promise was a significant campaign pledge by Marcos during the 2022 elections, and the program has since expanded from its pilot launch in Cebu to at least 223 sites nationwide.
Eligibility for the program has widened from initial restrictions to include minimum wage earners, farmers, and fisherfolk.
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