BALER, Aurora – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. ‘s flagship initiative to make rice available at P20 per kilo is bringing much-needed relief and hope to senior citizens in far-flung areas of Aurora province.
Rosario Arenas, a 62-year-old senior citizen from Barangay Dibaraybay in Dinalungan town, is one of many elderly residents who have benefited from the “Benteng Bigas Meron Na” program.
Arenas said affordable rice is more than just a staple—it is a reflection of the government’s care for vulnerable sectors.
“There’s no unpleasant smell; in fact, it’s fragrant and of good quality. It’s just like the commercial rice we usually buy,” she shared.
Barangay Food Terminal Association President Perla Rada disclosed that the Kadiwa Store in Dinalungan, which is located at the Public Market in Poblacion Zone II, has already sold about 1,050 kilograms of rice to 202 qualified beneficiaries.
These include senior citizens, solo parents, persons with disabilities, and other indigent residents.
The “Benteng Bigas Meron Na” program is a key component of the Marcos administration’s food security strategy.
It aims to lower rice production costs to below P20 per kilo while ensuring that Filipino families have consistent access to affordable, quality rice.
As the program continues to expand nationwide, many senior citizens in Aurora remain hopeful that the P20 per kilo rice initiative will be sustained and extended to reach more vulnerable households. (CLJD/MAT, PIA Region 3-Aurora)