The Department of Agriculture (DA) regional office here on Monday officially rolled out the “Benteng Bigas Meron (BBM) Na” program in two towns in Leyte province in its bid to ensure affordable rice for the public.

Around 1,500 families in Palo town belonging to the vulnerable sectors benefitted during the program’s rollout. Among them are beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, solo parents, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, Indigenous People, farmers and fisherfolk.

In La Paz town, 1,000 beneficiaries accessed affordable staple rice.

Each beneficiary from the two towns were allowed to purchase up to 10 kilograms of rice at a subsidized price of PHP200 or PHP20/kg.

“This (rollout) aims to provide the Filipino families, especially those in the marginalized sector, access to affordable and locally produced rice, which can help in the department’s battle cry for food security,” Jenny Lyn Almeria, DA regional technical director for operations, said in a statement.

The program will be launched in other provinces and municipalities in the region in the coming weeks, she added.

Previously, government rice was sold at PHP33/kg, but President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. directed government agencies to sell it for PHP20 under what is now called the BBM Na program that was launched on May 1, 2025.

The DA, through the Food Terminal Incorporated and local government units, provides a subsidy to allow the National Food Authority to sell rice at PHP20/kg. (PNA)