Manila, June 26 -- The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) on Thursday said it will launch the nationwide sale of its "Bagong Bayaning Magsasaka (BBM)" rice in partnership with local government units (LGUs) in August.

"By August, ilo-launch natin iyong (we will launch the) BBM rice in partnership with the LGUs. Nationwide agad. Isa per province (it will be immediately nationwide. One per province nationwide)," NIA Administrator Eduardo Guillen told the Philippine News Agency in a phone interview.

On May 27, the NIA and the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) entered into a memorandum of agreement (MOA) for food security in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s directives.

In a separate interview with the PTV'...