Manila: At least 7,000 local farmers have already availed of the PHP20 per kilogram rice under the 'Benteng Bigas Meron (BBM) Na' program, the Department of Agriculture (DA) reported Monday. The expansion began on August 13, with the DA targeting around five million beneficiaries under the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture.

According to Philippines News Agency, DA spokesperson Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa noted that the strong turnout indicates that even palay farmers, who are also 'net consumers' of rice, are eager for access to more affordable staple food. During a press conference, he emphasized the importance of providing farmers with cheaper rice options, highlighting that the program's popularity demonstrates a significant demand among farmers for the PHP20 per kg rice.

Each farmer participating in the program is entitled to purchase up to 10 kilograms of rice per month, equivalent to a 50-kg sack. To date, nearly 70 tons or 70,000 kilograms of rice have been distributed to farmers and farm workers through this initiative.

Before its expansion to include farmers, the 'BBM Na' program primarily benefited senior citizens, solo parents, persons with disabilities, Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries, and minimum wage earners. The subsidized rice is currently available in 18 National Food Authority (NFA) warehouses located in the Cordillera Administrative Region, Cagayan Valley, and Central Luzon.

As the program expands, at least 20 additional NFA warehouses are on standby to facilitate the wider distribution of 'BBM Na' rice to farmers. As of August 17, the DA reported that the PHP20 per kg rice is accessible in 211 Kadiwa ng Pangulo (KNP) sites.

The program has also made a significant impact on a larger scale, with almost 365,000 Filipinos benefiting from it as of August 15. The total rice sold through existing KNP sites has reached 3,432.78 metric tons, amounting to PHP68.64 million.