Manila, May 2 -- The Department of Agriculture in the Negros Island Region (DA-NIR) is preparing to implement the government's PHP20-per-kilo rice program in Negros Oriental.

Alejandro Rafal, DA-NIR assistant director for operations and extension, said Friday that Negros Oriental provincial government committed PHP10 million as a counterpart subsidy for the initiative.

"We had a meeting recently with Governor (Manuel) Sagarbarria and he said he is just awaiting the Sangguniang Panlalawigan approval for authority to enter into a memorandum with the Food Terminal, Inc.," Rafal said.

The province will need approximately 7,500 bags of 50-kilogram rice to serve eligible beneficiaries, Rafal said, quoting the governor.

"Now that the DA has ...