Nearly one million Filipinos across the country have benefited from the government’s “Benteng Bigas Meron (BBM) Na” program since its rollout seven months ago, the Department of Agriculture (DA) reported.

Speaking at the Saturday News Forum, DA Assistant Secretary Genevieve Guevarra said the PHP20-per-kilo rice initiative of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., launched in May, has so far reached close to 900,000 beneficiaries.

“Almost a million have benefited since we launched on May 13, 2025. Politically correct, more than 900,000,” she said.

Guevarra said the DA is now looking to modernize the program’s registration system to ensure that the intended beneficiaries are the ones purchasing the subsidized rice.

The improved system is expected to help monitor where and how often beneficiaries buy the PHP20 rice.

“We are looking to modernize registration system nationwide to be more direct to our target beneficiaries. At the same time, to monitor where they buy and how often,” Guevarra said.

She added that the agency is targeting to reach 15 million households under the program by 2026. (PNA)