The provincial government is targeting an initial 9,534 households with malnourished children for the launch of the PHP20 per kg. rice in August.

In a press briefing on Thursday, Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. said the provincial government has allocated around PHP8 million as its subsidy share under the “Benteng Bigas Meron (BBM) Na!” program

“We are all set. We will have a ceremonial signing with the FTI (Food Terminal Inc.),” he said.

The launch will coincide with the release of Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to ensure the target beneficiaries have money to buy the low-cost rice.

“We cannot be very sure if the beneficiaries have the capacity to buy even at low cost. So, we will just take advantage of what we have. There is financial assistance available for us, so we will give it to the beneficiaries of our malnutrition program,” he said.

The implementation of the PHP20 per kg. rice is one of the components of the “SiPag at TiyaGa for MoRProGRes sa Bagong Pilipinas” a convergence program aimed at sustaining the agriculture sector and addressing malnutrition in the province.

The other components of the SiPag at TiyaGa are the intensified hybrid rice program, aimed at reaching the target of six metric tons per hectare, and the provision of financial assistance to families of undernourished children.

“This will evolve into our long-term plan that, in the future, even without the NFA (National Food Authority) rice, we can sell (cheap rice), coming from our produce,” Defensor said. (PNA)