President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said the government expects to reduce subsidies for the “Benteng Bigas Meron (BBM) Na!” program as domestic rice production continues to improve due to agricultural reforms.
“Habang ‘yung production natin gumaganda, bababa nang bababa ‘yan (As our production improves, the subsidy will continue to decrease),” Marcos said in the third episode of the BBM Podcast aired Wednesday, referring to government spending for the flagship affordable rice program.
Marcos said the government has now reached a point where the subsidy is sustainable.
“Naabot na natin ‘yung punto na masabi natin, ‘O kaya na natin ito’ (We have reached the point where we can say, ‘Oh, we can do this). We can afford it. We can afford the subsidy,” he added.
Launched as a centerpiece program of his administration, BBM Na sells rice at PHP20 per kilo to the poor and vulnerable sectors.
While the overall subsidy is projected to shrink in the coming years, Marcos said its reach will broaden to benefit more Filipinos.
He credited improved rice output to reforms rolled out over the past three years, including reducing farming input costs, increasing equipment distribution, and cracking down on smuggling and hoarding.
The President noted that farmers are now better equipped, supported by interventions such as the distribution of machinery and the accelerated issuance of land titles under agrarian reform.
“Noong bago kaming upo, wala pa lahat ‘yan. So, sa nakaraang tatlong taon, ginagawa na ngayon namin. Ngayon, may kakayahan na tayo (When we assumed office, none of that was in place. We’ve done the work over the past three years. Now, we have the capability),” he said.
The administration has repeatedly vowed to boost food security and ease rice prices — an issue deeply felt by many Filipinos — as part of its broader anti-poverty agenda. (PNA)