• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
A P20 per kilo rice will be available in Bacolod City on June 5.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. will lead the launch of the national government’s “Bente Bigas Mo” program on Thursday at the Central Market in Bacolod City, according to Engr. Jose Alberto Barrogo, DA regional director for Negros Island Region.
Bacolod City Mayor turned Representative-elect Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, said in a press briefing on Monday, “Everyone is looking forward to this. We have to make sure price stability is maintained and that our constituents don’t bear the brunt of inflation.”
“That is why we are really pushing for this program,” Benitez added.
Barrogo said that the Bacolod City government has been able process and comply with the required documents. At the same time, he said they are coordinating with the provincial government of Negros Occidental to help them fast track the processing of documents.
Benitez disclosed that the National Food Authority (NFA) has about 9,000 sacks of rice stored at NFA Bacolod, which the city will utilize entirely for the program.
“This is a national program. As long as the national program continues, the local government unit will support and implement it locally,” he added.
The initial rollout is set to have an allocation of P8 million budget for the program.
While the initial phase is ready for rollout, Benitez noted that the continuation of the program will depend on rice availability, and possibly be subject to change with the transition of the leadership of the city to Mayor-elect Greg Gasataya by the end of the month.*
