The Philippine government is expanding its affordable rice initiative to include overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their families, a move aimed at fulfilling President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s pledge to make quality rice accessible while supporting local farmers.
The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and the Department of Agriculture (DA) announced a partnership Wednesday to bring PHP20 rice to OFWs through the Kadiwa ng Pangulo program. The initiative, which connects farmers directly to consumers to bypass costly market intermediaries, will soon offer the subsidized rice at the DMW’s central office in Mandaluyong City.
“Our President Marcos Jr. truly values our OFWs, our modern-day heroes,” said DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac in a statement. “This effort ensures affordable rice reaches Filipino households, including the communities of our OFWs.”
The Kadiwa program, a cornerstone of the administration’s Bagong Pilipinas agenda, seeks to create an equitable food distribution system by linking consumers with farmers, fishers, and small businesses. Cacdac urged responsible purchasing to maximize the program’s reach.
Beyond affordable rice, the DMW and DA are collaborating to support OFWs interested in agribusiness as part of the national reintegration program. The initiative offers technical assistance and guidance to help OFWs become “agri-preneurs,” promoting agriculture as a sustainable livelihood.
“The agricultural sector is a worthwhile opportunity for our OFWs,” Cacdac said. “We’re working with the DA to make agribusiness a viable path for their reintegration.”
The program reflects the government’s dual focus on food security and economic empowerment for OFWs, who are vital to the Philippine economy through their remittances.
