00:00Just about everybody wants a share of government's 20 peso a kilo rice to include the Department of Social Welfare and Development
00:06which just drew a piece of the action by ordering tens of thousands of BBM grain sacks for its relief, distribution, and calamity struck locations.
00:15Our Charms Espina hashes over more details in this report.
00:20Rosario is buying 20 pesos per kilo NFA rice for the seven people in their household.
00:25Dati, ang binibili namin yung tag-45, eh, eh, ngayon 20 na lang. Malaking bagay yung makakatipid kaming malaking.
00:34Because it was rainy in the morning, Pocholo bought the 20 peso rice for his grandmother.
00:39Mas makakatipid po para sa kanila. Hindi po masyadong malaki yung budget para sa bigas.
00:44Mas malaki po yung natitipid namin kasi imbis na sa limang kilo po is 300 plus po yung magagastos namin. Nasa 100 plus na lang po.
00:53The Department of Social Welfare and Development continues to support the initiative of President Ferdinand R. Marcus Jr.'s administration
00:59to make rice more accessible to vulnerable sectors through the Benteng Bigas Merona program.
01:05DSWD Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlau said this initiative is a huge help to Filipinos striving to support their families daily.
01:13According to her, this proves the government also prioritizes the vulnerable sectors.
01:17The DSWD already procured 35,000 NFA rice bags for disaster response and feeding programs.
01:24Doon naman sa food stamp program nila, 20 pesos na bigas, ibebenta rin ng NFA para doon sa mga accredited na mga parang kitahan or suppliers.
01:37Currently, there are 94 locations selling rice at 20 pesos per kilo, including the newly launched Benteng Bigas Merona program at Zapote Public Market, led by President Marcus Jr. today.
01:49Meanwhile, the Department of Agriculture is monitoring areas, particularly in some provinces in Central Luzon,
01:55where traders are allegedly using the Benteng Bigas Merona program to push down the farm gate price of palay.
02:01Hindi dapat gamitin yun na dahilan, kasi yung 20 pesos na bigas, galing yun sa NFA na binili at 24 pesos.
02:13So why would they say na yun yung reason when in fact the palay na ginamit na maging bigas, na ebinenta,
02:21because may subsidy ang gobyerno doon eh. Hindi dapat gamitin yun na raso.
02:25The DA assured that rice prices in the market remain stable.
02:29This is Sharm Zespina from the National TV Network for a new and better Philippines.
