DOLE, NFA distribute P20/kg rice to minimum wage earners

The "Benteng Bigas Meron (BBM) Na" program provides affordable rice at PHP20 per kilogram to minimum wage earners across the Philippines.

In Leyte, approximately 3,500 minimum wage earners from Philippine Associated Smelting and Refinery (PASAR) Corp. in Isabel and Energy Development Corp. (EDC) in Kananga have benefited from the program.

The program is a collaboration between the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the National Food Authority (NFA), with the NFA confirming sufficient rice stocks.

In Ilocos Norte, 265 minimum wage earners have availed of the PHP20/kg rice, with 19 local establishments registering their employees.

Each employee in Ilocos Norte can purchase up to 10 kilograms of rice monthly.

The initiative, supported by the Department of Agriculture, Food Terminal Inc., and the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), aims to ease the burden of rice expenses for low-income workers.