CAPIZ – The National Food Authority (NFA)-Capiz is ramping up its rice milling operations in preparation for the local rollout of the “Benteng Bigas Meron Na” (BBM Na) program, a flagship initiative of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. aimed at making rice more affordable for Filipino families.
The program is part of the national government’s broader strategy to combat hunger and malnutrition, particularly among low-income and vulnerable sectors. Under the BBM Na initiative, rice will be made available at a subsidized rate of P20 per kilo, a price point significantly lower than current market rates.
According to NFA Acting Branch Manager Andy Ostan, the Capiz branch is ready to support the program and serve as the main rice source for participating local government units (LGUs) once implementation begins.
However, Ostan clarified that the NFA has not yet received formal instruction from Food Terminal Incorporated (FTI) to begin releasing rice supplies to LGUs under the program.
The provincial government, in coordination with the NFA, is actively engaged in monitoring and planning to ensure the smooth and efficient implementation of the BBM Na program across the province.
As of this writing, NFA-Capiz held 200,000 bags of rice in various warehouses, which accounts for 47% (equivalent to 142,000 bags) of its 300,000-bag target for 2025.
The BBM Na initiative was first launched in the Visayas on May 1, following President Marcos’ directive to bring down rice prices nationwide. Several Kadiwa stores in Metro Manila have already begun selling rice at P20 per kilo, and preparations are underway in other Western Visayas provinces — Iloilo, Aklan, and Guimaras — as LGUs gear up to meet the administrative requirements for program rollout.
Beyond offering affordable rice, the BBM Na program also seeks to strengthen regional food security and ease the financial burden on Filipino households amid rising commodity prices./PN
