P20/kilo rice now available for 'Walang Gutom' beneficiaries of DSWD

MANILA — The P20/kilo rice program of the government is now extended to beneficiaries of Department of Social Welfare and Development's “Walang Gutom” program.

The Walang Gutom program is the flagship anti-hunger program of the Marcos administration, wherein food-poor families receive P3,000 worth of food credits via electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards monthly.

The program mandates beneficiaries to allot half of the P3,000 to carbohydrates, such as rice and bread.

DSWD said now that the P20/rice program is available, beneficiaries can now buy more rice for their families.

"Lagpas ng doble yung carbohydrates na maiuuwi nila so excited sila doon, at kung excited sila, masaya rin kami kasi maraming benepisyo yun sa ating bulnerableng sector," said DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian.

(The beneficiaries can purchase more than double so they are excited about it, and we're happy about it too.)
“Ang highlight ng araw na ito ay 300,000 pamilyang Pilipino na ang makakakuha ng murang bigas sa halagang Php20. Mas marami na silang maiuuwi gamit ang kanilang food credits," Gatchalian added.

(The highlight of this day is that 300,000 families can now avail cheaper rice at P20/kilo. They can buy more with their food credits.)

Gatchalian said the rice available at the WGP-accredited retailers before the rollout of the P20-per-kilo rice was priced at more than P50 per kilo.
The “Benteng Bigas” pilot rollout in Tondo, Manila is also replicated in Cebu province and the Caraga region, with plans to expand it nationwide as the supply chain stabilizes.

The DSWD chief concluded by highlighting the agency’s goal to scale up the program and reach 750,000 food poor households before President Marcos’ term ends in 2028.