By Stephanie Sevillano

‘BBM NA’ FOR TEACHERS. Public school teachers conduct online classes at Batasan High School in Quezon City on June 26, 2025. Education Secretary Sonny Angara on Friday (Sept. 19) expressed his delight over the possible expansion of the “Benteng Bigas Meron (BBM) Na” to the education sector. (PNA photo by Joan Bondoc)

MANILA – The Department of Education (DepEd) thanked President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for making the PHP20 per kilo rice program accessible to teaching and non-teaching personnel.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) will expand the “Benteng Bigas Meron (BBM) Na” program to the education sector, tentatively set Oct. 15.

“Nagpapasalamat kami kay (We thank the) Presidente and (DA) Sec. (Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.). Talagang napakagandang programa ho itong bente peso rice (the PHP20 rice program is really promising),” DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara said in a radio interview.

“Matutuwa ho talaga ‘yung pamilya ng ating teachers (The families of our teachers will be overjoyed).”

He said DepEd is ready to help address possible logistical challenges in distributing the subsidized rice to its personnel.

Earlier, Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the DA is finalizing the list of beneficiaries within DepEd, with salary grades a consideration in the selection. (PNA)