Nearly 3K minimum wage earners in Caraga avail of ‘Benteng Bigas’
By Mariesh F. Celedeña
BUTUAN CITY (PIA) —Some 3,000 minimum wage earners in the Caraga region are now benefiting from the government’s Benteng Bigas Meron (BBM) Na! rice subsidy program, which offers affordable rice at only P20 per kilo.
According to Attorney Jason P. Balais, regional director of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Caraga, a total of 2,959 minimum wage earners from 14 private companies have already availed of the program as of July 31, 2025.
These beneficiaries are spread across the provinces of Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte, and Surigao del Sur, with the bulk of the companies that have availed of the affordable rice are located in Butuan City.
“We are still waiting and coordinating with other employers, especially from the Province of Dinagat Islands, to encourage them to avail of the program and extend this assistance to their workers.as well,” Dir. Balais said in an interview with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Caraga.
The BBM rice subsidy program is part of the government’s initiative to ensure food security and economic relief for workers, especially those most affected by inflation and rising living costs. Under the program, qualified minimum wage earners can purchase up to 10 kilos of rice monthly at a subsidized rate of P20 per kilo.
To date, DOLE Caraga has already withdrawn and distributed 532 sacks of 50 kilos rice across the region and continues to process additional allocations for upcoming distributions. These sacks of rice will be repacked by Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) beneficiaries into packs of 10 kilos rice.
Among those thankful for the program is Editha Arivas, a mother of one of the employees from one of the participating companies. She said that the BBM rice helps ease their household’s daily expenses, allowing them to stretch their limited income.
She delightedly shared that contrary to what others had said about the rice, the rice they received are of good quality, it tastes good and looks just like the premium rice sold in the market, it also doesn’t have a weird smell. She hoped that her daughter can still avail of the rice the following month through their employees union.
The DOLE Caraga regional office continues to urge more private companies to coordinate with them and support their workers by helping facilitate access to the rice subsidy.
The BBM rice subsidy program is in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s call in his past State of the Nation Addresses (SONAs) to strengthen food accessibility, support labor welfare, and deliver programs that directly benefit ordinary Filipinos. (MFC, PIA Caraga)