The Iloilo City Government is preparing to launch the “Benteng Bigas Meron (BBM) Na!” Rice Program, a subsidy initiative that will allow vulnerable residents to buy rice at only ₱20 per kilo.
Mayor Raisa Treñas said the city government has allocated ₱500,000 to procure 1,500 bags of 50-kilo rice through the Food Terminal, Inc. (FTI), which will source the supply from the National Food Authority (NFA).
The Sangguniang Panlungsod has already authorized Treñas to sign the agreement, and the city is awaiting FTI’s final approval before setting the launch date.
Beneficiaries include 4Ps members, solo parents, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and indigent families. Each qualified individual may purchase up to 10 kilos per month.
The rice will be sold gradually until December through Merkado Lokal and Uswag Rolling Stores, with an initial 200 bags expected to be released every third week of the month.
“This program ensures that the most vulnerable sectors have access to rice at a much lower price,” Treñas said, emphasizing the city’s priority to ease the burden of high food costs.
The program is part of a nationwide rollout. It is already being implemented in Guimaras, while the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) introduced it in Western Visayas last June, benefiting 4,500 minimum wage earners.
The subsidy scheme is a partnership between local governments and the Department of Agriculture, both sharing the cost to keep rice affordable for struggling households.IMT
