The national government has started the distribution of P20-per-kilo rice in Tacloban City, making the staple affordable to the vulnerable sectors.
Francis Rosaroso Department of Agriculture Regional Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division chief, said the “Benteng Bigas, Meron (BBM) Na!” program provides quality rice at an affordable price to beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, persons with disabilities, solo parents, and senior citizens.
“The prioritization of the vulnerable sector as program beneficiaries complies with the directive of the President and Department of Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel,” Rosaroso said.
City agriculturist Romelo Anade said they will sell the BBM Na rice to communities before making the commodity available at Kadiwa centers.
“After the successful launching of the program in Tacloban, we will launch this in clustered villages so everyone in the vulnerable sector can avail. We will announce the schedule of rice distribution in communities,” Anade said in a social media post.
Each consumer is allowed to buy 10 kilograms of rice to ensure that more families can avail the program.
BBM Na is a partnership program among the National Food Authority, Food Terminal Inc. (FTI) and local government units.
