By Brian Campued
The Department of Agriculture (DA) has partnered with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to launch the P20/kilo rice for minimum wage earners in DOLE-accredited establishments starting Friday.
The pilot implementation of the “Benteng Bigas Meron Na” program for minimum wage earners is expected to benefit nearly 120,000 employees from over 500 establishments, “with numbers expected to grow as more companies join the program.”
On the first day of rollout alone, DOLE estimated that around 16,000 workers from 99 establishments nationwide will benefit from the selling of affordable rice.
During the launch of the BBM Na program at Manila Harbor Center in Tondo, Manila, DOLE Undersecretary Benjo Benavidez said the program will also be expanded to include more companies in the coming weeks.
“Kaya po tinitingnan ngayon ’yong pilot, meron po tayong mga karanasan na makukuha dito sa pilot: [kung] papaaano natin mas mapapabilis ’yong distribution at mabibigyan ng malawak na access ang mga manggagawang Pilipino,” Benavidez said in an interview with the media.
“After today, titingnan po natin ano ’yong mga nangyari doon sa iba’t ibang mga establishment, papaano nila dinistribute, paano ’yong pagbayad.”
Minimum wage earners, however, are still not allowed to purchase the P20/kg rice in KADIWA ng Pangulo stores as such outlets only cater to members of the vulnerable sector.
“Sa ngayon hindi pa puwede ’yong mga manggagawa sa ordinary Kadiwa stores… ’Yong mga minimum wage earners, kung saan lang may listahan ang DOLE at doon sa mga kompanya or organisasyon na nagpa-participate sa programa ng DOLE for P20 [rice], iyon lang ang pupuwede,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said.
Laurel added that the national policy for the BBM Na program may be finalized by October this year, this includes a mobile application where recipients can register for eligibility.
The P20 rice program was first launched on May 1 in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to make affordable and quality rice accessible to the Filipino people.
“This isn’t just about rice—it is about dignity. It is about proving that [the] government can deliver for the Filipinos who need it most,” Laurel said. “We are fulfilling President Marcos’ promise of affordable food—subsidized for now, but ideally self-sustaining in the future through agricultural modernization.” (with report from JM Pineda / PTV News)
-jpv
