Ilocos norte: A total of 265 minimum wage earners in the province of Ilocos Norte availed of the PHP20/kg rice during the launch of the "Benteng Bigas Meron (BBM) Na" program here Thursday. Janelyn Martin, head of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Ilocos Norte, confirmed this to the Philippine News Agency on Friday. She reported that DOLE, in coordination with the Department of Agriculture, National Food Authority, Food Terminal Inc., and the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI)-Ilocos Norte and Laoag City Chapters, joined forces to roll out the program in the province.

According to Philippines News Agency, the initiative allows each employee to avail of 10 kilos of rice on a monthly basis. Martin highlighted that 19 local establishments across the province have registered their employees to benefit from the program. PCCI member JC Salvador expressed the significance of the initiative, stating, "This initiative aims to ease the burden of rice expenses among our hardworking employees earning minimum wage. A simple yet impactful step toward supporting the daily needs of our local workforce."

NFA-Ilocos Norte manager Jonathan Corpuz reassured the public about the sufficiency of rice stocks for the program. In a phone interview, Corpuz mentioned, "We have enough stockpile in our warehouses, and this may increase further because we have an ongoing milling operation and procurement."

In his 4th State of the Nation Address on July 28, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. announced plans to roll out the PHP20/kg rice initiative nationwide.