MINIMUM WAGE EARNERS CAN ALSO BUY P20/KG RICE – DA

STARTING next month, minimum wage earners can now have access to the P20 per kilo rice program, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said.

According to Agriculture Assistant Secretary Arnel De Mesa, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel and Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma agreed “in principle” to expand the Benteng Bigas Meron (BBM) Na” program to minimum wage earners beginning June.

De Mesa said an initial 120,000 workers have been identified as program beneficiaries.

The program was first made available to members of the vulnerable sector, which include senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and members of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).

De Mesa said they have been provided with the official list of the program’s beneficiaries nationwide.

“Galing sa DOLE iyong listahan at ang inisyal din na napagkasunduan ay bibigyan ng pagkakataon na makabili ng 10 kilo ng bigas kada buwan iyong mga  minimum wage earner,” he said.

The 10-kg. purchase limit is equivalent to 1.2 million kg. volume allocation each month.

“Of course, minimum wage earners sila, pandagdag ito na tulong na ‘di ba maliit iyong,” de Mesa said.

The DA official, meanwhile, said they are still finalizing the mechanism to prevent duplication and ensure a more organized manner of distribution to minimum wage earners.

Earlier, the DA said it aims to expand the program to low to low-middle-income families, with an overall target of 15 million households or 60 million Filipino beneficiaries nationwide.

To date, the ongoing first phase of BBM Na program includes 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.

In July, Phase 2 will be conducted in Zamboanga del Norte, Basilan, Cotabato City, Tawi-Tawi, Maguindanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte, Maguindanao, Davao Oriental, and Sorsogon.

Meanwhile, the final phase will cover Sultan Kudarat, Lanao del Norte, Catanduanes, Agusan del Sur, Sarangani and Dinagat Islands.