Manila, April 30 -- The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Wednesday announced that it will move the launching of PHP20 per kilogram rice dubbed "Benteng Bigas Mayroon (BBM) Na" in Kadiwa ng Pangulo (KNP) Centers in Metro Manila from the original May 2 target to May 13.

This came after the Commission on Elections (Comelec) appealed to the DA to temporarily withhold the Metro Manila KNP rollout of the program until after the May 12 midterm elections to avoid accusations that the government is using the rice program for politics.

In a media interview, DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said only the pilot launch in KNP site in Cebu will push through on Thursday.

"The Cebu government has not yet gotten the approval to do the selling of ...