The PHP20 per kilogram rice program under the “Benteng Bigas Meron (BBM) Na” of the Marcos administration has served 2.6 million Filipinos and is now accessible in 508 sites, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said on Tuesday.

DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. made the announcement as he led the expansion of BBM Na in Pampanga and the site inspection of a state-of-the-art post-harvest facility in the province.

In a statement, Tiu Laurel assured “strong coordination” with the National Food Authority (NFA), Food Terminal Inc. (FTI), and local government units (LGUs) to realize the food security targets of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

“Unti-unti nating naisakatuparan ang adhikain ng Pangulo na ang benteng bigas ay meron na para sa ating mga kababayan (The aspiration of our President for the PHP20 per kilo rice to be available to our countrymen is gradually turning into reality),” he said.

In Pampanga alone, the DA estimated about 350,000 qualified BBM Na beneficiaries.

DA Assistant Secretary Genevieve Velicaria-Guevarra said Pampanga may be considered as a key distribution hub as NFA warehouses in Central Luzon hold about 8,300 metric tons (MT) of rice stocks.

“Isa rin po itong paraan para ma-decongest ang mga bodega ng NFA upang makapamili pa sila ng mas maraming palay (unhusked rice), lalo na ngayon na inaasahan natin ang masaganang ani (This is also one way to decongest the warehouses of the NFA, for them to be able to procure more palay, especially now that we are expecting an abundant harvest),” she said.

To date, millions of Filipinos have accessed the cheaper rice option as the DA implemented its nationwide expansion across all 82 provinces.

Eligible beneficiaries include senior citizens, persons with disabilities (PWD), solo parents, members of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), farmers, fisherfolk, transport workers, minimum wage earners, teachers and non-teaching personnel, as well as middle- and low-income households, among others.

Tiu Laurel said the BBM Na will run until June 30, 2028.

Tiu Laurel also led the inspection of the PHP414.8-million Pampanga Food Security Complex in Barangay Sta. Catalina in Lubao.

Once fully operational, the facility will function as a one-stop service center for local farmers, as the government seeks to boost local rice production, slash post-harvest losses, and improve the quality of rice.

The state-of-the-art postharvest facilities will include mechanical dryers, rice milling systems, and modern warehouses. (PNA)