Jeepney, tricycle drivers added to rice program
The government will include jeepney and tricycle drivers in its subsidized rice program starting mid-September, as the Department of Agriculture (DA) continues to expand the scope of the initiative.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the agency is coordinating with Transport ation Secretary Vince Dizon for the inclusion of transport workers in the P20 per kilo rice program.
Tiu Laurel said they would become part of the discounted rice sale beginning Sept. 16, which would be piloted in five cities.
On Friday, the agency unveiled the expanded rollout of the Marcos administration’s flagship food program covering fisherfolk and registered fishery sector workers in select major fish ports in Luzon.
These are Navotas Fish Complex in Metro Manila, Sual Fish Port in Pangasinan and Lucena Fish Port Complex in Quezon.
Fishers and fishery sector workers registered under the Registry System for Basic Sectors of Agriculture (RSBSA) may purchase up to 10 kilograms of cheaper rice per month.
Eligible beneficiaries only need to present their RSBSA or Fisherfolk Registration System IDs or a valid QR code from the online registration system.
The DA is finalizing the development of a QR code system to make it easier to monitor the purchases of qualified beneficiaries under the program.
