MANILA – The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Monday assured the public that there is enough supply of ₱20 per kilo rice under the Benteng Bigas Meron Na (BBM Na) program in Kadiwa ng Pangulo (KNP) sites.
The assurance came after temporary stock shortages were reported in some Kadiwa outlets last week due to increased demand for the subsidized rice.
In an ambush interview, DA spokesperson Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said the Food Terminal Inc. (FTI) and the Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service (AMAS) have already adjusted their systems to ensure faster replenishment of stocks.
He emphasized that there is no issue with the overall inventory or volume allocated for the ₱20 rice program, adding that supply will remain stable moving forward. However, he acknowledged that minor delays may still occur due to logistical challenges, which both AMAS and FTI are actively addressing.
De Mesa also noted that selling capacity at the DA central office has significantly increased—from 200 slots at the height of tensions in the Middle East to more than 1,000 slots daily. Similar improvements are being implemented in other areas, with selling operations available four to five days each week.
Earlier, the National Food Authority (NFA) released at least 10,000 bags of aging but still good-quality rice to support the BBM Na program.
As of the end of March, the NFA reported having over 400,000 metric tons of rice inventory—sufficient to cover about 15 days of the country’s daily consumption, including aging stocks.
NPO News Team | Philippine News Agency - PR
