The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Monday vowed to improve the buying experience under the PHP20 per kilogram rice program.
The program, dubbed “Benteng Bigas Meron (BBM) Na,” is now being rolled out in 34 Kadiwa ng Pangulo (KNP) Centers and stalls in Metro Manila and select provinces in Luzon after its launch on May 13, and in 37 local government units in Cebu following its pilot launch on May 1.
In a Palace press briefing, DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. assured he will personally visit KNP sites to improve the situation of consumers, especially amid the summer season.
“Maglagay ng electric fan, kung hangga’t kaya, may kuryente. Maglagay ng trapal o tolda para maano ang init (Put electric fan if possible, if there’s electricity. Put up tarpaulin covers or tent to lessen the heat),” he said.
“Alam ninyo naman mainit ngayon kaya i-a-address natin iyan para maging mas maganda iyong experience ng ating mga mamimili (You know it’s hot right now, so we’ll address that to make the experience of buyers better).”
He reported that the program received a warm welcome from members of the vulnerable sector.
“Kita naman natin na medyo natutuwa ang mga tao at tuluy-tuloy naman. Ang problema namin na ina-address ngayon ay iyong haba ng pila (We saw that the people are somehow happy and it’s continuous. The problem that we’re addressing right now is the long queues),” he said.
Besides a better buying experience, Tiu Laurel also assured the sustainability of rice supply as the DA is set to roll out a three-phased expansion of BBM Na in the within the year.
To date, he said the National Food Authority (NFA) has around one million available sacks of soon-to-age and aging “high-quality” rice stocks.
3-phase expansion
Tiu Laurel earlier said the DA will expand the pilot rollout of BBM Na nationwide, prioritizing areas with high poverty incidence.
This will be conducted through a three-phase expansion to benefit more Filipinos and immediately dispose of the NFA rice stocks amid its palay procurement from local farmers.
The ongoing first phase include 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.
“Sinama din namin ang Mindoro kasi may clamor from Mindoro na, ‘Galing sa amin iyong bigas, bakit wala kami?’ So, sinama na namin sa first phase iyan (We have included Mindoro because there’s a clamor that ‘the rice stocks come from them, why were we not included?’. That’s why we’ve included them in the first phase),” Tiu Laurel said.
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.
“So, number one sa phase two natin (in our phase two) in July will be Zamboanga del Norte, which has a 37.7 percent of poverty incidence,” he said.
Finally, the third phase will cover Sultan Kudarat, Lanao del Norte, Catanduanes, Agusan del Sur, Sarangani and Dinagat Islands.
In terms of KNP sites, the DA is eyeing to make the PHP20 per kg rice available in 55 outlets starting in June. (PNA)
