With nearly P15 billion already disbursed as of April 15, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. formally kicked off the “Biyayang Bigas” rice distribution program in Manila on Thursday, framing it as a direct government response to food price pressures driven by rising oil costs.
The event was held at SM City Manila, where around 80,000 residents in the city alone are set to benefit from the initiative. Each qualified household will receive 10 kilos of rice six times a year.
Marcos pointed to the ongoing oil price surge as the backdrop for the program’s urgency. “Nagtaasan ang presyo ng langis… sabay-sabay, lalong-lalo na ang pagkain (Oil prices have risen… and along with it, especially food prices),” he said, adding that while fuel costs are beyond the government’s control, food prices are not. “Wala tayong magagawa doon sa presyo ng langis. Ngunit sa presyo ng pagkain, yun mayroon tayong magagawa (We cannot control oil prices, but we can act on food prices),” he said.
Manila was among the first areas to receive distributions, with Marcos noting the city’s local government was ready to move quickly. The program runs through the Local Government Support Fund, a mechanism he said was chosen to reduce bureaucratic lag. “Binigay na po natin sa ating mga local government para naman ay mabilis (We have given the funds to local governments so delivery will be faster),” the President said.
He defended the LGU-centered delivery model as practical, arguing that local officials have a clearer picture of who needs assistance. “Sila ang on the ground… sila ang nakakaalam kung sino ang nangangailangan (They are on the ground… they know who needs help),” Marcos said.
The rollout is expected to expand beyond the capital, targeting low-income families and workers most exposed to rising living costs nationwide.
Marcos used the occasion to restate a personal benchmark he has set for his presidency. “Sana pagbaba ko bilang Pangulo ay masasabi ko wala nang gutom na Pilipino (I hope that when I step down as President, I can say that no Filipino goes hungry),” he said. “Sana po ay kahit papaano matupad ang aking pangarap… wala na pong gutom na Pilipino (I hope we can achieve this dream… that no Filipino goes hungry),” he added.
