Manila: With the continuous expansion of the PHP20 per kilogram rice program in line with the directives of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., the 'Benteng Bigas Meron (BBM) Na' has benefited around 9,487 households, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said Wednesday. This initiative has positively impacted over 40,000 individuals from vulnerable sectors, including beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and solo parents.
According to Philippines News Agency, the Department of Agriculture has already sold 94.87 metric tons (MT) or 94,870 kg of rice worth PHP1.9 million since May 13. DA spokesperson Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa highlighted the public's acceptance of the BBM Na program, noting it as a significant fulfillment of the President's promise. The program's expansion has made it accessible to more Filipinos through 55 KNP Centers, sites, Kadiwa pop-up stores, and other non-KNP stalls in various regions including Metro Manila, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Ilocos region, and Cebu.
Additionally, the DA plans to launch the BBM Na in three areas in Bacolod, specifically Burgos public market, Libertad public market, and Bacolod Central Market. The program's impact on rice retail prices has been notable, contributing to a decrease in rice inflation. Regular imported milled rice now starts at PHP35, while well-milled rice is priced at PHP38, showcasing a significant drop from previous prices ranging from PHP45 to PHP50.
The agriculture official also reported a downtrend in prices of local 20 percent broken commercial rice, with prices ranging from PHP30 per kg to PHP45 per kg. The prevailing price is PHP40, and the average is PHP38, indicating a substantial decrease. Besides the BBM Na, other factors contributing to lower rice prices include the imposition of the maximum suggested retail price (MSRP), the Rice for All (RFA) program, and a favorable local harvest.
As of May 15, the RFA program sold 962.18 MT of rice worth PHP37.65 million, benefiting 161,497 households. The KNP program overall served 7 million households and assisted 2,484 farmers' cooperative associations (FCAs), achieving PHP2.8 billion in total sales since July 2022. Local palay production slightly increased during the first quarter of the year, with an output of nearly 4.699 million MT, surpassing last year's 4.685 million MT for the same period.
With a good harvest volume, the country imported only 1.812 million MT of rice as of May 31, a reduction from last year's 2.15 million MT. The DA's National Rice program projects the country's palay production to reach 11.4 million MT, equivalent to 7.2 million MT of rice for the wet harvest season during the second semester of 2025.
