Vulnerable sectors in Oriental Mindoro are gaining improved access to affordable rice with the Benteng Bigas Meron (BBM) Na program now selling subsidized rice at 20 pesos per kilogram in several locations in the province.

The Calsedeco Multi-Purpose Cooperative KADIWA Center officially has been operating since May 2025, targeting marginalized groups including persons with disabilities, senior citizens, Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program beneficiaries, and solo parents.

The Calsedeco KADIWA Center operates from 7:00AM to 7:00PM Monday through Friday, and 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM on weekends.

Officials advise customers to bring reusable bags and personal items such as water, fans, and umbrellas to prepare for long queues and hot weather conditions.

The center operates under strict distribution limits, serving 70 individuals daily from Monday to Saturday, with each transaction capped at 10 kilograms and monthly household limits of 30 kilograms.

Heribert Qiualqiual, Manager for Business Development and Marketing Operations at Calsedeco MPC, said beneficiaries need only present valid identification as proof of eligibility. Representatives must show both their own ID and that of the beneficiary they represent.

The program has also expanded in Occidental Mindoro.

Magsaysay town launched its Benteng Bigas program on September 8, 2025, serving 500 beneficiaries through the Caguray Irrigators and Farmers Agriculture Cooperative.

“In Benteng Bigas here in Magsaysay, we are prioritizing four vulnerable groups: solo parents, persons with disabilities, senior citizens, and beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program,” said Jogilyn Bentoy from the Department of Agriculture’s Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division.

Nationwide, the Department of Agriculture reported Wednesday that the Benteng Bigas Meron Na program now operates in 94 locations across the country.

Approximately 542.18 metric tons worth P10.83 million pesos have been sold, benefiting 63,473 households.

The program utilizes aging but good-quality rice stocks from the National Food Authority, targeting vulnerable sectors and minimum wage earners with subsidized pricing.

Last year, Oriental Mindoro launched a pilot 1,000-hectare Rice Cluster program in Calapan City.

The program covers Barangays Biga, Bayanan, and Malad, targeting 1,035 hectares to enhance rice production through stakeholder collaboration.

National Irrigation Administration MIMAROPA Regional Manager Ronilio Cervantes assured the agency’s commitment to ensuring efficient water delivery to the designated cluster areas.

The rice cluster program, jointly headed by the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office and NIA MIMAROPA, will provide support interventions to participating Farmers’ Associations and Irrigators’ Associations for at least four cropping seasons.