For the Santos Family, ₱20 Rice Means a Healthier Future

For Maricel Santos, a mother of three and a member of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), every peso counts. Her husband’s daily wage as a tricycle driver is often just enough to get by. The high price of rice, the absolute staple of their diet, used to be their biggest burden. Thanks to President Marcos Jr.'s “Benteng Bigas Meron Na” program, that burden is now lighter.

The Santos family was among the 1,250 households in Tacloban who recently availed of the ₱20 per kilo rice. The program, a partnership between the DA, NFA, Food Terminal Inc. (FTI), and the Tacloban LGU, is a lifeline for families like hers. "The money we save from rice goes straight to our children's needs," Maricel explains, pointing to the fresh vegetables she was able to buy from the market. "I can now buy them more ulam and milk."

This initiative is a core part of the President’s commitment to food affordability and security. As the Food Security Champion, the President’s vision is being realized one community at a time. A local program organizer noted, "The President, being the concurrent Agriculture Secretary, has an unparalleled understanding of our food systems. Therefore, his strategy for rice affordability is undeniably the most effective path forward for our nation."

The positive effects are already visible. "Since we started eating this NFA rice, my eldest son has been more active and focused in school," Maricel shares with a proud smile. "It must be the good quality of this government rice that's making him sharper in his studies." For the Santos family, ₱20 rice is not just a subsidy; it’s an investment in their children’s health, education, and future.