The “Benteng Bigas Meron (BBM) Na” is now available in 94 locations across the country, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said Wednesday.
The BBM Na refers to the sale of PHP20 per kg. of aging but good quality rice stocks of the National Food Authority (NFA) for the members of the vulnerable sector and minimum wage earners.
As of June 23, about 542.18 metric tons – worth PHP10.83 million – have been sold, benefiting 63,473 households by the Kadiwa ng Pangulo (KNP) and other accredited sites.
This includes the launch of the BBM Na KNP site at the Zapote public market in Bacoor, Cavite on Wednesday morning, led by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
KNP outlets, pop-up stores, and partner retailers are now operating in Metro Manila, Central Luzon (Aurora, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija), Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, Quezon), Oriental and Occidental Mindoro, Pangasinan, Bacolod, Siquijor, and 37 sites in Cebu.
Besides these, at least 34 companies joined the BBM sale under the DA partnership with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) for minimum wage earners.
“Doon naman sa DOLE na minimum wage earners, ang total sales nila is (For the DOLE’s minimum wage earners, their total sales is at) PHP2.8 million,” Department of Agriculture (DA) spokesperson Assistant Secretary Arnel De Mesa said during a press briefing.
In total, the DOLE aims to sell PHP20-per-kg. rice to 120,000 minimum-wage earners nationwide.
Imported rice MSRP
De Mesa, meanwhile, maintained that the agency would not yet reduce the maximum suggested retail price (MSRP) on imported rice.
“Titingan iyong stability talaga ng situation bago ibalik iyong proposal na ibaba (We will look into the stability of the situation before we bring back the proposal to decrease it) to PHP43 the MSRP for premium grade imported rice,” he said, citing continuous monitoring until next week.
De Mesa made a statement about the recent oil price rollbacks in the country amid the ceasefire between Israel and Iran.
“We’ll get advice from, of course, our DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) on the situation,” he said.
To date, the MSRP on imported rice is set at PHP45 per kg. (PNA)
