P20/kg rice under BBM Na now available in over 87 sites

“Soon, the areas where PHP20 rice will be available will surpass 1,000.” (Photo: Department of Agriculture – Philippines/Facebook)

By Stephanie Sevillano, Philippine News Agency

MANILA – More Filipinos will benefit from the government’s PHP20 per kilogram rice program under the “Benteng Bigas Meron (BBM) Na” as it is now available in 87 locations in the country, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said Thursday.

This came after the DA launched the program in Kadiwa ng Pangulo (KNP) stores in three public markets in Bacolod City.

The number is beyond the 55 initial target KNP sites to offer PHP20/kg. rice from the National Food Authority earlier projected by Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.

In a statement, Agriculture Assistant Secretary Genevieve Velicaria-Guevarra said the BBM Na expansion would be hastened through inter-agency collaboration.

“And that number will grow exponentially in the coming weeks as we onboard additional sites through the support of the Department of Labor and Employment and the Department of Social Welfare and Development,” she said.

“Soon, the areas where PHP20 rice will be available will surpass 1,000.”

As of June 5, the DA said the rice is accessible in 19 KNP centers and pop-up stores in Metro Manila; eight in Aurora, Bulacan, and Nueva Ecija in Central Luzon; eight in Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal in Calabarzon; and one each for Oriental and Occidental Mindoro in Mimaropa.

For non-Kadiwa sites, nine more outlets in Metro Manila are offering the rice through the Food Terminal Inc..

More local government units also partnered with the DA to make the PHP20/kg. rice available to their constituents including Pangasinan in Ilocos Region; Tudela, San Francisco, Alegria, Malabuyoc, Aloguinsan, Argao, Asturias, Balamban, Bantayan, Barili, Borbon, Carcar City, Catmon, City of Bogo, City of Naga, City of Talisay, Compostela, Ginatilan, Medellin, Minglanilla, Oslob, Pinamungahan, Poro, Samboan, San Fernando, Santander, Sogod, Tabogon, Tabuelan, Toledo City, Tuburan, Mandaue, Badian, Madridejos, Daanbantayan, Boljoon, and province of Cebu in Central Visayas; and Burgos public market, Libertad public market, and Bacolod Central Market in Bacolod, Western Visayas.