MANILA, Philippines — Makati City on Tuesday extended the national government’s P20 per kilo rice program to public transport drivers and other vulnerable sectors as it eyes a wider rollout through a public market.
The city government said beneficiaries of the “P20 Rice Project: Benteng Bigas, Meron Na!” included senior citizens, persons with disabilities, solo parents, Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program beneficiaries, and other members of the transport sector.
Rice allocations were distributed during the launch at the Makati City Hall Quadrangle on April 14, 2026.
The inclusion of transport workers gave the rollout a broader reach, as the subsidized rice program sought to help sectors most affected by rising food costs.
Mayor Nancy Binay also said the city planned to bring the P20 rice project to the Poblacion Public Market and later to villages to make the subsidized rice more accessible to residents in the coming days.
“This program is a significant step toward ensuring food security for our most vulnerable communities. We are grateful to the national government for bringing this initiative to Makati, and we remain committed to supporting programs that uplift the lives of our residents,” Binay said.
