At least 7,000 local farmers have already availed of the PHP20 per kilogram rice under the “Benteng Bigas Meron (BBM) Na” program, the Department of Agriculture (DA) reported Monday.

The expansion started on Aug. 13, with the DA targeting around five million beneficiaries under the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture.

DA spokesperson Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said Monday that the strong turnout proves that even palay farmers, who are also “net consumers” of rice, want access to cheaper staple food.

“It’s important for them to have access to cheaper rice. So, what happened is proof that many farmers want to avail the PHP20 per kg rice,” he said during a press conference.

Each farmer is allowed to purchase up to 10 kilograms per month, or equivalent to a 50-kg sack.

To date, almost 70 tons or 70,000 kilograms of rice have been sold to farmers and farm workers.

Prior to its expansion to farmers, the program benefited senior citizens, solo parents, persons with disabilities, Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries and minimum wage earners.

The subsidized rice is initially available in 18 National Food Authority (NFA) warehouses in the Cordillera Administrative Region, Cagayan Valley, and Central Luzon.

At least 20 NFA warehouses are now on standby for the wider sale of “BBM Na” for farmers.

As of Aug. 17, the DA said the PHP20 per kg rice is available in 211 Kadiwa ng Pangulo (KNP) sites.

Almost 365,000 Filipinos, meanwhile, benefitted from the program as of Aug. 15, with 3,432.78 metric tons sold amounting to PHP68.64 million in existing KNP sites. (PNA)