In a significant move to support the underprivileged, Legazpi City successfully sold 500 bags of Bagong Bayaning Magsasaka (BBM) Rice to priority sectors at the Kadiwa ng Pangulo on Friday. The initiative, which took place at Ayala Mall, saw a bustling crowd eager to purchase the affordable rice priced at PHP29 per kilogram.
Ma. Cleofe Baraero, a spokesperson for the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), highlighted that the BBM Rice was sourced from the contract farming program with irrigators’ associations. This rice, sold at PHP290 for a 10-kg bag, was specifically targeted at vulnerable groups such as senior citizens, persons with disabilities, solo parents, and beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps). Additionally, the general public had access to rice at PHP35 per kilogram, with a limit of 10 kg per customer.
Elner Lawraya, a senior citizen from Daraga, Albay, shared his appreciation for the program, noting that it has significantly helped him manage his finances better. ‘This initiative is crucial for us. It allows me to allocate my limited funds to other essential needs of my family,’ he stated, expressing hope for the program’s ongoing support and expansion.