LEGAZPI CITY, July 30 -- A total of 880,355 Bicolanos have so far benefited from the Department of Agriculture's Benteng Bigas Meron Na! (DA-BBM Na!) program, which sold rice at an affordable P20 per kilogram, the National Food Authority in Bicol (NFA-5) said Thursday.

Julie Llenaresas, assistant regional manager II of NFA Bicol, said the agency continues to ensure the availability of quality rice supplies to support the implementation of the affordable rice initiative in the region.

As of July 24, the NFA Bicol has released 73,452 bags of rice in Albay, benefiting 367,260 individuals; 79,218 bags in Camarines Sur, reaching 396,090 beneficiaries; and 23,401 bags in Sorsogon, serving 117,005 beneficiaries.

Llenaresas said the agency rem...