By Reia G. Pabelonia
SUBIC BAY FREEPORT ZONE (PIA) — About 2,867 minimum wage earners in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone avail rice at P20 per kilo through the “Benteng Bigas, Meron Na!” program.
The initiative forms part of the government’s continuing efforts to make food more accessible and affordable for low-income workers and to ease the impact of inflation on essential goods.
Beneficiaries included employees of Sanyo Denki Philippines Inc. and its associated manpower service providers.
The distribution was conducted at the company’s premises in Subic Techno Park, Boton Area, where each worker was able to purchase rice at the subsidized rate.
The activity was spearheaded by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), in partnership with the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority.
DOLE Zambales Senior Labor and Employment Officer Arvin Fabian emphasized the importance of supporting wage earners through direct interventions.
“Ikinatutuwa namin ang pagsama sa mga minimum wage earners, lalo na dito sa probinsya ng Zambales, kasama ang Subic Bay Freeport Zone, kung saan ay libo-libong empleyado ang maaring makinabang,” he said.
In his 4th State of the Nation Address, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. highlighted the program’s successful rollout and affirmed that rice can be sold at P20 per kilo without compromising the livelihood of Filipino farmers.
He said the program has already been implemented in various locations across Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.
Marcos also announced that the government has allocated P113 billion to enhance agricultural programs and expand the distribution of P20 rice nationwide through KADIWA centers in partnership with local governments.
The rice distribution in Subic not only provided access to affordable food but also reflected the administration’s continued commitment to worker welfare through targeted and sustainable support programs. (CLJD/RGP, PIA Region 3-Zambales)
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