LEGAZPI CITY, July 16 -- Around 2,500 qualified residents of Sta. Magdalena town in Sorsogon availed of rice priced at PHP20 per kilogram during the rollout of the government's "Benteng Bigas Meron Na" program.

In a report on Thursday, Lovella Guarin, Department of Agriculture (DA) Bicol spokesperson, said the launch at the Sta. Magdalena Municipal Covered Court is part of the PHP20 Rice Program under the initiative of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., aimed at providing affordable rice to vulnerable sectors.

Eligible beneficiaries were allowed to purchase up to 10 kilograms of rice each. These include senior citizens, solo parents, persons with disabilities, Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries, public utility vehic...