In a statement, DSWD Secretary Esperanza Cabral said of the 488,506 families that have been submitted by local government units and supported by assessment sheets by the local social welfare office, only 83,875 are qualified for the issuance of Family Access Cards with BIGAS (Beneficiaries Identified for Government Assistance) numbers, as of today.

The families are entitled to purchase cheaper rice at P18.25 per kilo from Tindahan Natin Outlets, Bigasan sa Parokya and National Food Authority's rolling stores.

The family access card will be available to families living at the  poverty threshold, and allows up to P5,000 a month in "subsidized rice" for a family of five.

The move to issue FACs to poor families came as the country faces a looming rice crisis due to skyrocketing prices of the staple in the world market.

After weeks of assessment, only 488,506 family-beneficiaries have been identified by the LGUs as of May 12, representing 70 percent of the total target number of family-beneficiaries of 702,192, Cabral said.