By Stephanie Sevillano
MANILA – The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Thursday said it seeks to make the PHP20 per kilogram rice program, dubbed “Benteng Bigas Meron (BBM) Na,” available in at least 55 Kadiwa ng Pangulo (KNP) Centers and stalls in June.
In an interview on the sidelines of the grand “salu-salo” (eating together) of the PHP20 per kg rice at the KNP Center in Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) compound in Visayas Avenue, Quezon City, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said this will cover areas in Luzon.
“By June, which is malapit na, sa Kadiwa (which is now near, in Kadiwa), we’re trying to open 50 to 55 outlets for selling PHP20 rice. Of course, sa Cebu, tuluy-tuloy na sa maraming (in Cebu, it’s continuous in many) municipalities,” he said.
Besides the provincial government of Cebu, other local government units (LGUs) have also ordered NFA rice stocks, including Siquijor, Southern Leyte, and Bohol, with a total of 673,000 50-kg. bags, according to the Food and Terminal Inc. (FTI).
Tiu Laurel, likewise, said they will soon include areas in Mindanao to make cheaper rice available to poor families.
He said this is part of the three-phase implementation of the BBM Na program, with Phases 2 and 3 set to be rolled out in July and September, respectively.
“Ang utos din ni Presidente, palawakin na rin ito (The president’s order is to expand this) to Mindanao for this year and maybe some parts of Visayas and Luzon. Pinipili namin ngayon iyong lugar (We are choosing areas) based on poverty incidence, iyong pinaka-matataas para (the highest ones to be) fair,” Tiu Laurel said.
Good quality
Members of the vulnerable sector, meanwhile, praised the quality of PHP20 rice as they joined the DA’s grand “salu-salo” with the agricultural officials.
Enelita Villa, a senior citizen, thanked President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for fulfilling his promise to make PHP20/kg quality rice available to poor Filipino families.
“Wala pong amoy pero iyong lasa masarap po at saka iyong mayumi, kumbaga malamuyot sa aming Ilocano, malambot, masarap (It has no smell, but the taste is delicious and in Ilocano, ‘malamuyot’ – soft, delicious),” she said in an interview.
“Ako po ay nagpapasalamat, siguro hindi lang ako, marami po ang nagpapasalamat sa naisip ninyo na maipatupad ang bente pesos na isang kilo. Maraming-maraming salamat po (I’m thankful, perhaps not only me, many of us are thankful that you’ve thought of fulfilling this PHP20 per kg rice promise).”
Celso Añoza, a senior citizen barangay aide worker, shared the same sentiment, stressing he’s willing to line up to access the cheaper rice for his extended family of 16.
“Ito iyong sinabi niya doon di ba? Malaking tulong sa budget. Biruin mo bente pesos lang kumpara doon sa (This is what he has said before right? It’s a huge help. Come to think of it, it’s just PHP20 compared to rice worth) PHP55,” he said, citing the amount of rice they usually buy.
To date, the PHP20 per kg program is available in 32 KNP sites in Metro Manila and nearby provinces. These are
For public markets:
• Pasay City Public Market, Libertad Street, Corner Taft, Pasay City;
• Kamuning Public Market, Cubao, Quezon City;
• Mandaluyong Public Market I (Kalentong), Kalentong Street, Pag-asa, Mandaluyong City;
• Mandaluyong Public Market II, Fabella Rd., Barangay Addition Hills, Mandaluyong City;
• Bagong Silang Phase 9 Public Market, Bagong Silang Phase 9, Barangay 176, Caloocan;
• Navotas Agora Complex, North Bay Boulevard, Navotas City;
• New Las Piñas Market, Alderan Street, Zapote, Las Piñas City;
Kadiwa Center:
• Agribusiness Development Center (ADC), DA Compound, Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City;
• Bureau of Animal Industry (Dome), Visayas Avenue, Barangay Vasra, Quezon City;
• Bureau of Plant Industry, San Andres Street, Barangay 706, Malate, Manila;
• Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority (PhilFIDA), Aria Street, Barangay Talon 2, Las Piñas City;
• Bagong Sibol Market, Kabayani Rd., Barangay Nangka, Marikina City;
• Disiplina Village (Phase 1), E. Quadra Street, Ugong, Valenzuela City;
• Food Terminal Inc. (FTI), Barangay Western Bicutan, Taguig;
• Barangay 183, Midway Park, Caloocan City;
• Philippine National Police (PNP), Camp Crame, Quezon City;
• Navotas City Hall (Grounds), M. Naval St., Navotas City;
Central Luzon:
• Barangay Minuyan, San Jose del Monte, Bulacan (beside SJDM Sports Complex);
• Bulacan Farmers Cooperative, Barangay Pala-Pala, San Ildefonso, Bulacan;
• Umpucan Palay and Vegetable Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Purok 5, Umpucan, San lidefonso, Bulacan;
• Balaong Vegetable Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative, SItio Pangarayuman, Balaong, San Miguel, Bulacan;
Calabarzon:
• Naic Municipal Covered Court, Naic, Cavite;
• Dasmariñas, Cavite (Rolling);
• Sta. Rosa City Hall, JP Rizal Boulevard, Barangay Market Area, Sta. Rosa City, Laguna;
• Municipal Agriculture Office (Municipality of Kalayaan), Real Street, Barangay San Juan, Kalayaan, Laguna;
• Sumulong Park, Barangay San Roque, Antipolo City, Rizal (Main Site, also rolling in different barangays);
• No. 2 Nursery Road, Barangay Sta. Ana, San Mateo, Rizal;
• Rodriguez Gymnasium (in front of Municipal Hall), Rodriguez, Rizal (Rolling in different barangays);
• Old Municipal Building, Barangay Calumoang, Binangonan, Rizal;
Mimaropa:
• C5 Road, Calsedeco Compound, Barangay Sta. Isabel, Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro;
Other Kadiwa activities:
• PhilPost, Liwasang Bonifacio, Magallanes Drive, Intramuros, Manila; and
• PNP- Eastern Police District, Armal Commercial Building, Caruncho Avenue, Pasig City
The DA aims to sustain the said program until 2028 in line with the directives of President Marcos to ensure food security, affordability, and accessibility, while supporting local farmers. (PNA)
