President Marcos Announces Gradual Reduction of Rice Subsidies Amid Improved Domestic Production

Manila, The Gulf Observer: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. announced that the government expects to gradually reduce subsidies for its flagship “Benteng Bigas Meron (BBM) Na!” affordable rice program, as domestic rice production continues to improve due to ongoing agricultural reforms.

Speaking during the third episode of the BBM Podcast, aired on Wednesday, President Marcos emphasized that increasing local rice output has made the subsidy more manageable and sustainable.
“As our production improves, the subsidy will continue to decrease,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino.

The BBM Na program, a hallmark of the Marcos administration, offers rice at PHP20 per kilo to support poor and vulnerable sectors. While subsidies for the program are expected to shrink in the coming years, the President stressed that its reach will expand to benefit more Filipinos.

“We have reached the point where we can say, ‘We can afford the subsidy,’” President Marcos stated, highlighting that the reforms have started yielding tangible results.

He credited the improvement in rice output to several key reforms implemented over the past three years. These include reducing the cost of farming inputs, expanding the distribution of agricultural equipment, and intensifying efforts against smuggling and hoarding.

President Marcos also pointed to the government’s enhanced support for farmers, such as the accelerated issuance of land titles under the agrarian reform program and broader distribution of modern farming machinery.

“When we assumed office, none of that was in place. We’ve done the work over the past three years. Now, we have the capability,” he said.

The Marcos administration has consistently emphasized food security and rice affordability as core pillars of its anti-poverty strategy, aiming to stabilize prices and improve livelihoods for millions of Filipino families.