“Watch me sustain it.” This was what President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. had to say on the PHP20 per kilogram rice initiative dubbed “Benteng Bigas Meron (BBM) Na” Program, as he welcomed public elation over its implementation.
Speaking to the media before returning to the country from Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday, Marcos said negotiations with other countries are underway to keep the price for rice cheaper until the end of his term in 2028.
“And then, we’ll talk in May of 2028, natuloy ba o hindi (if it happens or not). We found a way. We found a way to do it. We found a way to do it. We could not do it before. Hindi kaya kasi hindi pa kaya ng sistema. Iba pa ‘yung presyo ng bigas noon (It’s not achievable because of the system. The price of rice before was different),” Marcos said.
“We’re making deals with different countries para ‘yung presyo mapako na, na hindi pabago-bago. Kahit anong mangyari down the road, nagawa na ngayon natin. Wala tayong ganoon noon eh. Ngayon mayroon na. Kaya’t kaya na nating gawin ‘yung PHP20 (so that the price will be fixed and will not change. Whatever happens down the road, we have done it now. We didn’t have that before. Now we have it. So we can do the PHP20),” he added.
Marcos said it is “not surprising” that those who are qualified to buy the cheaper rice are “happy” about the government’s implementation of the “Benteng Bigas Meron Na” program.
While Marcos said it is also “fair” for some to think that the initiative is not sustainable, he clarified that the government is offering a PHP20 kilo of rice to the vulnerable sectors not just to “look good.”
“[The Department of Agriculture or] DA is able to sell rice. The price has come down. But at the same time, on the other side, tinitiyak natin na ang pambili, ‘yung pagbili – ang presyo ng pagbili sa farmers ay magandang presyo naman para naman ‘yung farmers natin, maganda ang kanilang hanapbuhay (we’re making sure that the purchase price to the farmers is a good price so that the farmers’ livelihood is good),” he said.
The PHP20 per kilo of rice is currently available in 38 Kadiwa ng Pangulo sites in Metro Manila, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, and Mimaropa.
Sixteen local government units in Cebu are also rolling out the program.
The first phase of the program intends to cover areas in Negros Oriental and Negros Occidental; Samar, Eastern Samar, and Northern Samar; Southern Leyte and Leyte; and Bohol, Antique, Cebu, Iloilo, Capiz Biliran; Guimaras, Siquijor, Aklan and Mindoro.
Phase 2 will be implemented in July in Zamboanga del Norte, Basilan, Cotabato City, Tawi-Tawi, Maguindanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte, Maguindanao, Davao Oriental, and Sorsogon, while the third and final phase will cover Sultan Kudarat, Lanao del Norte, Catanduanes, Agusan del Sur, Sarangani and Dinagat Islands.
On Tuesday, the DA said minimum wage earners may soon avail of the cheaper rice.
To date, the PHP20 per kilo of rice can only be sold to the members of the vulnerable sector, including the members of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and solo parents. (PNA)
