Manila, Sept. 5 -- An initial 69 farmers from Iloilo has availed of the PHP20 per kg. rice during the launch of the 'Benteng Bigas Meron Na!' (BBM Na) at the National Food Authority (NFA) warehouse in Jaro, Iloilo City, on Thursday.

Maria Teresa Solis, OIC-Regional Technical Director of the Department of Agriculture - Western Visayas, said the provision of the affordable rice to farmers and fisherfolk was in response to their request to also avail of the PHP20 per kg. rice.

In an interview on Friday, Solis said the NFA central office is the one giving instructions on the volume of rice that will be made available for a certain period based on the advice from the Food Terminal Inc. (FTI).

"For farmers, it is the FTI that will pay the su...