Manila: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. announced that the national government will implement the distribution system used by the Cebu provincial government for the rollout of the PHP20 per kilogram rice sale, known as “Benteng Bigas Meron (BBM) Na.”
According to Philippines News Agency, this decision follows the Department of Agriculture’s launch of the pilot rollout of the “BBM Na” program in Cebu on May 1. This initiative aligns with the Marcos administration’s commitment to ensuring a stable and affordable food supply for all Filipinos. President Marcos, during a campaign rally in Dumanjug, Cebu, highlighted Cebu’s existing distribution system and apps as models for the national rollout.
The President noted that the application would facilitate a more organized implementation of the P20/kg rice program, which is slated to launch in Kadiwa ng Pangulo (KNP) in Metro Manila immediately after the May 12 midterm polls. He acknowledged differences between national and provincial systems but emphasized minimal changes needed for the app’s adaptation.
Currently, seven KNP sites are operational in Cebu. The ‘BBM Na’ program aims to benefit approximately 800,000 families or 4 million individuals in Western, Central, and Eastern Visayas, as well as the Negros Island Region. In Metro Manila, the program is expected to assist at least 2 million individuals, targeting the vulnerable sector, including Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program members, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and solo parents, through the KNP Centers.
The Department of Agriculture postponed the BBM Na program’s rollout in Metro Manila to comply with the Commission on Elections’ 10-day “ayuda (assistance)” ban from May 2 to 12. The program will launch at 19 KNP sites in the National Capital Region and Pangasinan starting May 13.
The program sets a 30-kg monthly purchase limit for the vulnerable sector at KNP sites, while beneficiaries in Visayas have a 40-kg monthly limit. The nationwide implementation of the P20/kg rice program is targeted for January 2026.
