The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Wednesday added more PHP20-per-kg. rice program sites under the “Benteng Bigas Meron (BBM) Na” to benefit more Filipino farmers.

This comes after about 7,000 local palay (unhusked rice) farmers benefited from the BBM Na after its expansion on Aug. 13.

In a statement, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said four sites have been added to make the program more accessible nationwide.

These are Laoag City in Ilocos Norte; Roxas City in Capiz; Baloy, Cagayan de Oro City in Misamis Oriental; and San Jose, Occidental Mindoro.

Rice producers have earlier gained access to the BBM Na rice in 18 National Food Authority (NFA) warehouses across the Cordillera region, Cagayan Valley, and Central Luzon.

Tiu Laurel, meanwhile, reiterated that fishers will soon enjoy similar access to cheaper rice, with Lucena City in Quezon, Sual in Pangasinan, and Navotas City as initial target areas.

“By next week, the PHP20 rice program will also cover fisherfolk and fish port workers listed in the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture,” he said.

The DA earlier said almost 2.9 million fishers are eligible for the BBM Na, with the target launch set on Aug. 29.

“Eligible individuals may purchase up to 10 kilos of subsidized rice per month,” Tiu Laurel added.

For accessibility, the NFA will coordinate with the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA) to deliver BBM Na rice stocks to PFDA-owned fish ports nationwide. (PNA)