By Stephanie Sevillano | Philippine News Agency
The Department of Agriculture (D.A.) on Wednesday said that about 120,000 minimum wage earners would benefit from the P20 per kilogram rice under the “Benteng Bigas Meron (BBM) na” program starting in June.
The D.A. and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Tuesday “approved in principle” to expand the BBM Na program to minimum wage earners.
The affordable rice was first made available to members of the vulnerable sector, which includes senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and members of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).
In a press conference, D.A. Spokesperson Asec. Arnel de Mesa said they have been provided with the official list of the program’s beneficiaries nationwide. “Galing sa DOLE iyong listahan at ang inisyal din na napagkasunduan ay bibigyan ng pagkakataon na makabili ng 10 kilo ng bigas kada buwan iyong mga minimum wage earners.”
The 10-kg purchase limit is equivalent to 1.2 million kg volume allocation each month.
“Of course, minimum wage earners sila, pandagdag ito na tulong na diba maliit iyong sweldo,” De Mesa said.
The D.A. official, meanwhile, said they are still finalizing the mechanism to prevent duplication and ensure a more organized manner of distribution to minimum wage earners.
In terms of possible transport costs for the P20/kg rice sale, De Mesa said the Food Terminal Inc. (FTI) will utilize P500 million worth of allocated funds for logistics costs.
Earlier, the D.A. said it aims to expand the program to low-middle-income families, with an overall target of 15 million households or 60 million Filipino beneficiaries nationwide.
To date, the ongoing first phase of “BBM Na” program includes areas in Negros Oriental and Negros Occidental; Samar, Eastern Samar, and Northern Samar; Southern Leyte and Leyte; and Bohol, Antique, Cebu, Iloilo, Capiz Biliran; Guimaras, Siquijor, Aklan and Mindoro.
In July, Phase 2 will be implemented in Zamboanga del Norte, Basilan, Cotabato City, Tawi-Tawi, Maguindanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte, Maguindanao, Davao Oriental, and Sorsogon, while the final phase will cover Sultan Kudarat, Lanao del Norte, Catanduanes, Agusan del Sur, Sarangani, and Dinagat Islands.
