The city government here will purchase 1,500 bags of low-cost rice, each weighing 50 kg., in line with the implementation of the “Benteng Bigas Meron (BBM) Na!” Rice Program.

Mayor Raisa Treñas, in an interview on Tuesday, said the city government has allocated PHP500,000 for the program.

Treñas said the program has specific beneficiaries, among them members of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, solo parents, senior citizens, indigents, and persons with disabilities.

“We planned to sell in our Merkado Lokal and Uswag Rolling Stores,” she said.

She said the 1,500 bags will be sold gradually until December, aiming to probably release about 200 bags during the Merkado Lokal every Thursday and Friday of the third week of the month.

A beneficiary can purchase up to 10 kg. of rice per month.

Last week, the Sangguniang Panlungsod (city council) passed a resolution authorizing Treñas to sign an agreement with the Food Terminal, Inc. (FTI) to procure rice from the National Food Authority.

The city government will set the date for the program launch once the FTI, based in Manila, has signed the agreement.

The program is already being implemented in the province of Guimaras, while the Department of Labor and Employment rolled out the program to minimum wage earners in the region on June 13, for the benefit of 4,500 workers.

Under the program, the local government and the Department of Agriculture will have a counterpart subsidy share to reduce the cost of rice to PHP20 per kg. (PNA)