Over 16,000 minimum wage earners benefited from the nationwide rollout of the “Benteng Bigas Meron (BBM) Na for Minimum Wage Earners” program, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) reported Saturday.

DOLE Officer-in-Charge Benjo Santos said in a news release that 16,126 employees from 100 establishments across the country availed of the program.

The launch was spearheaded by Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.

The program is part of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s commitment to make basic commodities more affordable.

It was originally targeted for the vulnerable sectors, such as senior citizens, persons with disabilities, solo parents, and beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.

“Ang atin pong Pangulo ay may mensahe para sa mamamayang Pilipino. Mensahe na lagi po nating isaalang-alang ang kapakanan at kagalingan ng manggagawang Pilipino at kayo po iyon. Mensahe na possible ang bente pesos na bigas. Hindi lamang po ito pangakong napapako. Ito po ay isang ganap na katuparan (The President has a message to Filipinos. A message to always consider the welfare and well-being of Filipino workers and that is all of you. A message that the PHP20 per kilo rice is possible. This is not a promise that is unfulfilled. This is already a reality),” Santos said.

Fernan Nerida, president of the Manila Harbor Center Port Services Inc. Labor Union, thanked the DOLE and the DA for extending the program to minimum wage workers, saying the program is the result of coordinated efforts.

“Makakatulong ito sa ating mga pamilya, lalong lalo na sa panahon ngayon (It will help our families, especially at this time),” he said. (PNA)