Iloilo farmers were among the first to benefit from the ‘Benteng Bigas Meron Na!’ (BBM Na) program, with 69 farmers purchasing rice at PHP20 per kilogram during its launch at the National Food Authority (NFA) warehouse in Jaro, Iloilo City on Thursday.
Maria Teresa Solis, OIC-Regional Technical Director of the Department of Agriculture – Western Visayas, said the program responds to farmers’ and fisherfolk’s request to access affordable rice.
“For farmers, it is the FTI that will pay the subsidy; all covered by DA-FTI,” Solis explained, noting that the NFA central office sets the volume of rice available based on guidance from Food Terminal Inc. (FTI).
At the launch, the initial allocation included 500 bags of 50 kilos each, of which 68 bags and 10 kg were sold, serving 69 farmers. Farmers enrolled in the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) and tilling two hectares or less are eligible, with a maximum purchase of 50 kilos per farmer, enough for five months.
“The selling started yesterday, and NFA is open every day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The quality of rice is good,” Solis added.
The 500 bags currently cater to Iloilo farmers, but the program will soon expand to Dumangas, Antique, and Aklan, with all provinces expected to open on or before September 24. Capiz began last month and has already sold 327.6 sacks as of September 4.
Solis said the schedule for fisherfolk is still pending.