The Department of Agriculture (DA) has announced that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s ₱20-per-kilo rice initiative, “Benteng Bigas Meron (BBM) Na”, will be available across the Davao region throughout the month of October.
According to a report from the Philippine News Agency (PNA), the rollout comes in response to the recent magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck Manay, Davao Oriental, on Friday, October 10.
In line with this, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. has ordered an immediate assessment of the earthquake’s impact on the agriculture sector.
“I have instructed all regional directors to go to areas affected to give me a report as soon as possible on damages,” Sec. Tiu said in a Viber message to PNA.
The DA’s move aims to help stabilize food prices and support residents affected by the disaster while ensuring the availability of affordable rice in the region.
It can be recalled that the same ₱20-per-kilo rice program was earlier implemented in Cebu following the 6.9 magnitude earthquake that hit Bogo City.