TACLOBAN CITY, Dec. 15 -- The Department of Agriculture (DA) regional office here on Monday officially rolled out the "Benteng Bigas Meron (BBM) Na" program in two towns in Leyte province in its bid to ensure affordable rice for the public.

Around 1,500 families in Palo town belonging to the vulnerable sectors benefitted during the program's rollout. Among them are beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, solo parents, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, Indigenous People, farmers and fisherfolk.

In La Paz town, 1,000 beneficiaries accessed affordable staple rice.

Each beneficiary from the two towns were allowed to purchase up to 10 kilograms of rice at a subsidized price of PHP200 or PHP20/kg.

"This (rollout)...