(PNA file photo by PGLena)
ILOILO CITY, Philippines 鈥� The National Irrigation Administration in Western Visayas (NIA-VI) has sold some 1.2 million kilograms of low-cost rice since its rollout in September 2024.
NIA-VI data showed that as of this time, it has sold 604,356 kg of the 鈥淩ice for All鈥� at P35 per kg and 63,899 bags (10 kg per bag) of the 鈥淏agong Bayaning Magsasaka鈥� (BBM) rice at P29 per kg.
鈥淥ur P29 per kilo rice is intended for 4Ps (Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program) members, solo parents, PWDs (persons with disability), and senior citizens,鈥� said NIA VI public relations officer Danielle Pijuan in an interview on Tuesday.
鈥淲e also have P35 per kilo. That鈥檚 for everybody,鈥� he added.
She said NIA prepared a total of 668,605 kg for the 鈥淩ice for All鈥� and 67,566 bags of the BBM rice at the start of the program implementation last year.
Currently, they are left with 64,248 kg for the Rice for All and 3,667.3 bags for BBM rice, translating to around 100,921 kg in total.
The products are available in local government units based on a schedule set by irrigation management offices.
But mostly, these are sold at the Kadiwa ng Pangulo in NIA outlets.
For the P29 per kg rice, buyers are advised to purchase only one bag per week and bring their identification cards.
Pijuan said they will continue to sell cheaper rice as long as it is available.
Supply for the Rice for All and BBM rice is sourced from the agency鈥檚 contract farming program.
Under this program, a farmer or an irrigators association receives a total of P50,000 in cash and farm input subsidies for every hectare of rice field.
Upon harvest, the farmer will deliver five metric tons to NIA.
Fifty percent of the well-milled rice will go to Kadiwa stores to be sold at P29 per kg, and the remaining 50 percent at P35 per kg or whatever the prevailing price in the market is.
Currently, the contract farming program covers 1,290.3 hectares across the region.
鈥淭he goal of NIA is to provide the masses with low-cost and affordable rice. What we want to achieve is for our local farmers to provide very affordable rice and eliminate middlemen,鈥� Pijuan said.