Legazpi city: More than 500,000 farmers and fisherfolk in the Bicol region are benefiting from the "Benteng Bigas, Meron Na!" (BBM Na) program, allowing them to purchase rice at PHP20 per kg. Lovella Guarin, spokesperson of the Department of Agriculture in Bicol, highlighted that registered farmers in Camarines Sur and Sorsogon can take advantage of this initiative.

According to Philippines News Agency, farmers registered in the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture can buy up to 10 kg. per month, or one sack of rice, until December. They need to present their RSBSA registration at the National Food Authority (NFA) to avail of the program. The NFA serves as the primary source for this initiative, and efforts are underway to accredit three farmers' cooperatives and organizations to support the program.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is also committed to assisting farmers by implementing a temporary ban on rice imports for two months, providing farm inputs, and distributing hybrid rice. The current wet cropping season has seen 66,700 hectares planted, with expectations of a good harvest.

Additionally, the DA is offering fertilizers, cash aid of PHP7,000 for farmers cultivating less than 2 hectares, and a fuel subsidy for corn farmers. As of September 5, rice prices are as follows: special rice at PHP60, premium rice at PHP50, well-milled rice at PHP40, and regular-milled rice at PHP33, which has decreased from the previous PHP40 per kg.