The Department of Agriculture (DA) said it expects more than 85,000 individuals to benefit from the expansion of the "Benteng Bigas, Meron Na!" (BBM Na) in Aklan province.

In a news release Friday, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the expansion is aligned with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to keep rice affordable for vulnerable sectors while maintaining fair farmgate prices for local farmers.

“This is not just about selling rice at P20 per kilo—it’s about protecting Filipino families from high food costs while making sure our farmers are paid fairly,” Tiu Laurel said.

“When consumers can buy affordable rice, and farmers have a stable market for their palay, that’s when the system works,” he added.

Among the expected beneficiaries of the program are minimum wage earners, farmers and fisherfolk, senior citizens, solo parents, Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) members, persons with disabilities, and transport sector workers.

The program, Tiu Laurel said, is strategically designed to support the entire rice value chain.

He said that under the expanded rollout, the National Food Authority (NFA) will release more affordable rice by drawing down its buffer stocks, allowing it to procure more palay from local farmers at fair and just prices, particularly as the harvest season approaches.

“This approach helps stabilize rice prices while ensuring farmers have a reliable buyer for their produce,” he said.