Bicol: A total of 880,355 residents in the Bicol region have benefited from the Department of Agriculture's Benteng Bigas Meron Na! (DA-BBM Na!) program, which provides rice at an affordable rate of PHP20 per kilogram, according to the National Food Authority in Bicol (NFA-5).
According to Philippines News Agency, Julie Llenaresas, the assistant regional manager II of NFA Bicol, emphasized the agency's commitment to maintaining the availability of quality rice supplies to support the affordable rice initiative in the region. As of July 24, the NFA Bicol has released 73,452 bags of rice in Albay, benefiting 367,260 individuals; 79,218 bags in Camarines Sur, reaching 396,090 beneficiaries; and 23,401 bags in Sorsogon, serving 117,005 beneficiaries.
Llenaresas highlighted the agency's dedication to sustaining adequate rice inventories to meet the requirements of the BBM Na! program while contributing to food security in Bicol and other parts of the country. "This program under the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is very good because it helps many people access rice, which is still our staple food," she said. The program ensures that redemption sites are well-stocked so the PHP20 sale can continue seamlessly.
The BBM Na! program provides affordable rice to millions of Filipinos through the government's food security initiative. In support of this, NFA Bicol has set palay (unhusked rice) procurement prices effective from July 27 to August 1, with buying prices at PHP27 per kilogram in Sorsogon, PHP26 in Albay, and PHP25 in Camarines Sur and Catanduanes.
Princess Joy Edan, a beneficiary from Guinobatan, shared her experience with the program, noting that it has significantly reduced her family's daily expenses. "This is a very good program because it allows us to buy rice at a much lower price. If we buy from the market, rice usually costs around PHP50 to PHP60 per kilogram," she said. The savings from the PHP20 rice program have allowed her family to allocate funds for other daily needs and support their lettuce farm.
In Bicol, the PHP20 per kilo rice is sold on a scheduled basis: Monday for senior citizens, Tuesday for jeepney and tricycle drivers, Wednesday for indigent households (4Ps), Thursday for persons with disabilities and solo parents, and Friday for farmers and fisherfolk.
