The Negros Occidental provincial government is coordinating with the Department of Agriculture (DA) for the implementation of the P20 per kilogram rice program, allocating an initial funding of P10 million.

Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz II said he had met with DA-Negros Island Region Jose Albert Barrogo to discuss how to proceed with the program.

“There are also other things that we have to iron out before the implementation of the program,” he said in an interview.

Diaz said that once clearance is given, the provincial government will allocate about P7 million to purchase about 5,800 sacks of rice from the National Food Authority (NFA).

About P3 million will be set aside to secure supply from the irrigators’ associations, which had already been selling P25 per kilo of rice in partnership with the province since 2023.

“We’re trying that it can become P20 per kilo and to also increase the quantity of rice [that can be sold],” Diaz said.

When the DA announced the program’s pilot launch in the Visayas last month, Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said that “Negros Occidental will do its best to be part of this program.”

Officially called “Benteng Bigas Meron Na!” or BBM Na!, the program was initially introduced on May 1 in Cebu and parts of Metro Manila.

Its implementation was suspended 10 days leading to the midterm elections on May 12, but it has since resumed after the polls. (PNA)