Nearly 2,900 minimum wage earners in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone were able to purchase rice at just ₱20 per kilo through the government’s “Benteng Bigas, Meron Na!” program.

The initiative aims to provide affordable food options for low-income workers and cushion the impact of rising prices on essential goods. Beneficiaries included employees of Sanyo Denki Philippines Inc. and its partner manpower agencies.

Held at the company’s site in Subic Techno Park, Boton Area, the rice distribution allowed workers to access the staple at a subsidized rate. The program was led by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in coordination with the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA).

DOLE Zambales Senior Labor and Employment Officer Arvin Fabian highlighted the program’s impact, saying, “We are glad to support minimum wage earners, especially here in Zambales and the Subic Bay Freeport Zone, where thousands stand to benefit.”

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., in his 4th State of the Nation Address, cited the success of the initiative and affirmed that rice can be made available at ₱20 per kilo without affecting farmers’ livelihoods. The program has already rolled out in various areas across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

To further strengthen food accessibility, the national government has earmarked ₱113 billion to expand agricultural programs and increase the distribution of low-cost rice through KADIWA centers in partnership with local government units.

The recent rice distribution in Subic stands as part of the administration’s broader effort to improve worker welfare through practical and sustainable assistance programs.

📸 DOLE Zambales