Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez on Monday, June 2, announced the city government will start selling P20 per kilo rice under the “Benteng Bigas Meron (BBM) Na” program on Thursday, June 5 with an initial budget of P8 million.

“We will launch it on Thursday. Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, Jr. will arrive to join the launching. Everybody is looking forward to this. We don’t want high food prices to cause a burden on our constituents. That’s the reason why we should really push for the program,” he said in a press conference.

Benitez said he would meet with representatives of the National Food Authority (NFA) to discuss the details of the release of the available rice stocks.

“I was told by the NFA, the inventory in their warehouse is about 9,000 sacks. We’re taking all of it. They have guidelines and we will follow it,” he added.

Under the program, each family will be allowed a 10-kilo purchase per week or a total of 40 kilos every month.

The affordable rice is initially available to members of the vulnerable sector, including senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and members of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.

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

The program’s first phase intends to cover areas in Negros Oriental and Negros Occidental; Samar, Eastern Samar, Northern Samar, Southern Leyte, Leyte, Bohol, Antique, Cebu, Iloilo, Capiz Biliran, Guimaras, Siquijor, Aklan, and Mindoro. (PNA)