Dumaguete city: Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma will lead the distribution of government rice under the 'Benteng Bigas Meron (BBM) Na' program to 100 beneficiaries from Negros Oriental this weekend, an official said Wednesday.

According to Philippines News Agency, the distribution of the PHP20/kg. rice will coincide with the inauguration of the DOLE-Negros Island Region (NIR) office in this capital city. Raizza Phoebe Rubia, DOLE-Negros Oriental information officer, stated that the beneficiaries include 50 sugar workers from Tanjay City and 50 port workers from Dumaguete City, each receiving 10 kilos of rice.

The rice distribution is scheduled for August 9 during the inauguration of the DOLE-NIR interim regional office at the government center in Barangay Bajumpandan of Dumaguete City. This marks the first instance of the government holding the PHP20/kg. rice distribution for select beneficiaries from the marginalized sectors in Negros Oriental.

The government-subsidized rice is sourced through the Food Terminal, Inc., a government-owned and controlled corporation responsible for distributing affordable rice to consumers.