PH fishers can access P20/kg rice starting Aug. 29 –DA

MANILA – Filipino fishers will soon be able to buy rice at PHP20 per kilogram under the Benteng Bigas Meron (BBM) Na program starting Aug. 29, the Department of Agriculture (DA) announced on Monday.

The move follows the program’s expansion to rice farmers last Aug. 13.

“By the end of August, we will launch the Benteng Bigas Meron Na program for the fishery sector,” DA spokesperson Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said in a press briefing.

De Mesa said fishers will also be granted a 10-kilogram purchase limit per month, while the other portions of the expansion scheme are yet to be finalized.

For distribution, the National Food Authority (NFA) will coordinate with the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA) to make rice stocks accessible in PFDA-owned fish ports nationwide.

“May huli silang isda, may ulam sila at mayroon na rin silang bigas. So iyon ang plano (They have fish catch, they have viand and rice. So, that’s the plan) for fishers,” he said.

Fishers can access the cheaper rice in PFDA-owned fish ports in the country.

To date, almost 2.9 million Filipino fishers may be eligible for the BBM Na expansion.

— Stephanie Sevillano(PNA)