Manila, June 5 -- More Filipinos will benefit from the government's PHP20 per kilogram rice program under the "Benteng Bigas Meron (BBM) Na" as it is now available in 87 locations in the country, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said Thursday.

This came after the DA launched the program in Kadiwa ng Pangulo (KNP) stores in three public markets in Bacolod City.

The number is beyond the 55 initial target KNP sites to offer PHP20/kg. rice from the National Food Authority earlier projected by Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.

In a statement, Agriculture Assistant Secretary Genevieve Velicaria-Guevarra said the BBM Na expansion would be hastened through inter-agency collaboration.

"And that number will grow exponentially in ...