Gov’t expands P20/kilo rice program to 120,000 minimum wage earners

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How the rice will reach the minimum wage earners remains a question

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine government has identified 120,000 minimum wage earners nationwide who will be beneficiaries of the P20/kilo rice program starting June.

The initial list came from the Department of Labor and Employment, according to Department of Agriculture (DA) spokesman Arnel de Mesa.

Selected minimum wage earners will be allowed to buy a maximum of 10 kilos per month. How the rice will reach the minimum wage earners remains a question.

“Ang pina-finalize na lang ngayon ay ‘yung sistema, ‘yung distribution para mabilis ‘yung pag-access nila dito sa pagbili ng 20 pesos na bigas,” De Mesa told reporters Wednesday, May 28.

(What we’re finalizing now is the system, the distribution so they can access faster and buy the P20/kilo rice.)

De Mesa said the Food Terminal Incorporated has a budget of P500 million to oversee and cover the transportation costs of the rice distribution.

Currently, the government is selling rice from the stocks of the National Food Authority at P20/kilo (the project called ‘Bente Bigas Mo’) in Kadiwa centers, available only for vulnerable groups such as indigents, senior citizens, solo parents, and persons with disabilities.

DOLE Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma and DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. met Tuesday, May 27, to discuss the expansion of the rice program to minimum wage earners.

“For now, participation is limited to workers from companies that have expressed interest in the pilot program,” Tiu Laurel said in a statement on Tuesday.

– Rappler.com