Manila, June 9 -- The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has partnered with the Department of Agriculture in the Ilocos Region to pilot the sale of PHP20 per kilo rice or the "Benteng Bigas, Meron Na" (BBM Na) program to an initial 11,000 minimum wage earners in La Union province starting June 13.

DOLE-Ilocos Region Director Exequiel Ronie Guzman, in a forum on Monday, said they have coordinated with the La Union Chamber of Commerce for the initial list of beneficiaries.

"The rice program is initially for the vulnerable sectors but we wanted to extend it also to the minimum wage earners as they also struggle to make ends meet," he said.

Guzman said each eligible employee may avail of at least 10 kilos.

"The scheme is for their ...