Bacolod City: Several companies employing minimum wage earners in Negros Occidental are set to sign a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Food Terminal Inc. (FTI) to avail of the PHP20 per kg rice for their workers. Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)-Negros Occidental Provincial Head Carmela Abellar stated that their office is facilitating the companies' requirements for inclusion in the 'Benteng Bigas Meron (BBM) Na' program.

According to Philippines News Agency, the Department of Agriculture (DA) is preparing the advice for the National Food Authority. The DA announced it would allocate 1.2 million kg of rice monthly for 120,000 minimum wage earners in the country. Agriculture Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa explained that under the proposed deal, FTI's partner companies will handle the logistics cost.

Abellar mentioned that most interested companies to avail of the PHP20/kg rice are manpower agencies and sugar mills that hire laborers. The companies will pay the FTI for their rice sales under the 'BBM Na' program. Previously, the PHP20/kg rice was available to senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and members of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.

Last June 5, Bacolod City launched the PHP20/kg rice program at the Burgos North Public Market. This initial rollout included 5,880 sacks of rice worth PHP7.971 million, sold in major public markets and the city's 61 barangays.