Quezon city: More than 57,000 jeepney and tricycle drivers nationwide are expected to benefit from the government’s PHP20-per-kilogram rice program, as it expanded the “Benteng Bigas Meron (BBM) Na” to cover the transport sector, the Department of Agriculture (DA) announced on Tuesday. The initiative aligns with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to make affordable rice accessible to more Filipinos.
According to Philippines News Agency, DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. emphasized the importance of prioritizing the transport sector, which he described as a fundamental part of the country’s infrastructure, for government support. Speaking during the BBM Na launch at the Bureau of Animal Industry office in Quezon City, he highlighted the organized nature and substantial number of transport workers, stressing their significant role in society.
Mario Fuentes, a 46-year-old tricycle driver, expressed gratitude to President Marcos for the initiative, noting how it would help alleviate their daily expenses. He explained the challenges faced by drivers who start their trips as early as 4 or 5 a.m., while struggling to make ends meet due to family responsibilities and operating under a boundary system.
Each beneficiary under the Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association is entitled to purchase up to 10 kilograms of rice per month. The nationwide expansion was simultaneously rolled out in Navotas City, Angeles City, Cebu City, and Tagum City in the Davao region. The DA is implementing the program in coordination with the Department of Transportation, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, and local government units.
Currently, the BBM Na program is also available to fishermen and fish workers, local rice farmers, minimum wage earners, and members of vulnerable sectors, including senior citizens, persons with disabilities, solo parents, and beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program and the Walang Gutom Program.