Balagtas: Around 5 million rice farmers and workers are anticipated to gain from the government’s PHP20 per kilogram rice initiative, ‘Benteng Bigas Meron (BBM) Na,’ as announced by the Department of Agriculture (DA) on Wednesday. This program was inaugurated at the National Food Authority (NFA) warehouse in Balagtas, Bulacan, marking a significant step toward supporting Filipino farmers with subsidized rice and reducing production costs.

According to Philippines News Agency, the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) data suggests that approximately five million rice farmers and workers will qualify for this program once it is completely implemented. Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. highlighted in a press statement that each farmer will be able to purchase up to 10 kilograms per month, which translates to a 50-kg sack, from August through December this year.

Secretary Tiu Laurel emphasized that this initiative is among several measures being undertaken to alleviate the challenges faced by those who provide food for the nation and to ensure a stable food supply. The DA, in collaboration with Food Terminal Incorporated (FTI), has already launched BBM Na and established Kadiwa ng Pangulo (KNP) booths across at least 18 NFA warehouses in Central and Northern Luzon.

Furthermore, the program is expected to expand to include registered fisherfolk starting in September, with the potential to benefit 2.8 million fishers listed in the RSBSA. Other groups eligible for the initiative include senior citizens, solo parents, persons with disabilities, beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), and minimum wage earners.

Overall, the DA’s BBM Na initiative aims to reach 15 million households, or approximately 60 million Filipinos, by providing access to affordable rice.