Manila, Sept. 16 -- A total of 1,000 members of the transport sector here benefited from the government's PHP20/kg "Benteng Bigas, Meron Na!" program on Tuesday.

Led by the Department of Agriculture-Davao Region (DA-11), the launch of the program for jeepney and tricycle drivers, along with other public transport workers, is a major expansion of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s flagship food security initiative.

In an interview, Mayor Rey Uy said the city has a total of 3,350 pedicab drivers, with 1,000 included in the program's initial rollout.

"All of them will have the chance to avail of the program. This is just the first batch," Uy said.

Drivers may purchase up to 10 kilos of rice each.

To dispel doubts about the quality of t...