00:00Government's Bente Bigas Muna program is a gift that keeps on giving and reaching further out.
00:05This, as its distribution coverage has extended to include its largest group of beneficiaries,
00:11those behind the wheel and on the handlebars of public transport vehicles.
00:16Our Mary Vell Custudio tells us more.
00:2057,000 tricycle and jeepney drivers will benefit from the initial implementation of the expanded Bente Bigas Muna program.
00:28Laudensha is one of the first to line up at Nakadiwa na Pangulo Center at the Bureau of Animal Industry or Bayi to buy affordable rice.
00:36According to him, this is a huge help for its expenses, especially since he has a big family to fed.
00:58The pilot launching of Bente Bigas Muna is being held simultaneously in other parts of the country,
01:12such as Nabota City, Angeles City in Pampanga, Cebu City, Tagum and Panabo City in Tapo Region.
01:20The Department of Agriculture, Department of Transportation, LTFRB, and local government units
01:26are working together to create a database or list of DOTA members in the pilot areas.
01:31According to Agriculture Secretary Francisco Chulao Real Jr.,
01:35October is their target month for the full implementation.
01:38Taxi and bus drivers are the next in line for the expansion next month.
01:42This is to further speed up the procurement and unloading of the rice from the National Food Authority warehouses.
01:48Maraming talagang stock sa ating warehouses sa NFA at para makapag-bilitan ng palay,
01:53kailangan talaga namin mag-move out as fast as possible.
01:56So we're targeting maka 1,000 tons a day kami itong over.
02:01Then sa November, maka 2,000 tons a day kami dapat ang ma-release namin.
02:06And hopefully by December, 3,000 tons a day naming ibenta na 20 gas.
02:16The program expansion for minimum wage earners is also continuing
02:19in coordination with the Department of Labor and Employment.
02:22Teachers will also be included as beneficiaries from the Benting Bigas Merona program.
02:27The DAE is still coordinating with the Department of Education
02:30to use salary grade as basis for eligibility.
02:33The 20 pesos per kilo rice has already been made available to senior citizen,
02:38persons with disability, for peace members, solo parents, rice farmers, and future folks at PFDA ports.
02:45Last Saturday, as a birthday gift from President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.,
02:49100 Kadiwa sites selling 20 pesos per kilo rice were opened.
02:53The current administration aims to benefit around 15 million Filipinos
02:57through the Benting Bigas Merona program by 2028.
03:01Vel Custodio for the National TV Network for a new and better Philippines.
