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, held at Ayala Mall, saw a bustling crowd eager to purchase the rice at a discounted rate of PHP29 per kilogram, significantly lower than the PHP35 per kilogram available to the general public.
Ma. Cleofe Baraero, spokesperson for the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), highlighted that the BBM Rice was sourced from the contract farming program with irrigators’ associations. Each 10-kg bag was priced at PHP290, offering substantial savings. Additionally, 20 sacks of 50 kg each were prepared for sale, with a purchase limit set at 10 kg per customer.
The BBM Rice program targets vulnerable groups such as senior citizens, persons with disabilities, solo parents, and beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps). Elner Lawraya, a senior citizen from Daraga, Albay, shared his appreciation for the initiative, noting that it allowed him to allocate his limited funds to other essential family needs.
Lawraya expressed hope for the program’s sustainability, emphasizing its importance in helping families manage their budgets more effectively. The event not only provided immediate relief but also sparked discussions on the need for ongoing support for the community’s most vulnerable members.