Manila, July 10 -- The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) will lead the distribution of the PHP20 per kg. rice to 275 minimum wage workers of Innovative Skills Labor Service Cooperative (iSkills) here on Friday.

The iSkills workers are the second batch and the biggest group, so far to benefit from the "Benteng Bigas Meron (BBM) Na! for Minimum Wage Earners" Program in Negros Occidental.

In a statement Thursday, DOLE-Negros Occidental Provincial Head Carmela Abellar said the initiative aims to provide essential food support to minimum wage earners in line with the government's continuing efforts to alleviate the effects of rising living costs.

"The BBM Na! Program is a targeted rice subsidy program designed to uphold the dignity ...