VIGAN CITY, Ilocos Sur (PIA) – – Senior citizens, persons with disabilities (PWDs), solo parents, and members of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) from Ilocos Sur province availed of affordable rice at P29 per kilogram (kg) during the 10th ONE Ilocos Sur Job Fair and One-Stop-Shop held on November 22 at the Provincial Farmers Livelihood Development Center here.
This affordable rice, known as Bagong Bayaning Magsasaka (BBM) rice, was sourced from partner irrigator associations of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) in Ilocos Norte through its contract farming program.
A total of 500 bags, each weighing 10 kilograms, were sold during the activity.
“Nag-request ni Governor Jeremias Singson iti opisinami tapno makipagpaset kami iti daytoy nga event ket dumawat kami diay NIA Ilocos Norte tapno adda met mailako ditoy Ilocos Sur,” said Engr. Rex Utreta, head of the NIA Ilocos Sur Management Office’s Operation and Maintenance Unit.
(Governor Jeremias Singson initiated the involvement of the NIA in this quarterly job fair to allow qualified residents of Ilocos Sur to access affordable rice.)
Ernesto Go, a senior citizen from Rizal Street in this city, thanked the government for this initiative as it helped his family save amidst the increasing rice prices in the market.
Marilou Reotutar, a PWD from Santa Catalina town, faces a similar challenge as she lives with her daughter, who is a single parent to her one-year-old daughter.
She said, “Mayat ta isupay gastwenmi iti panaggatang ti agas ta binulan a 25 kilo a bagas ti gatgatangenmi diay tiendaan nga aggatad P55 per kilo. Isu ng agyamankami kenni Presidente Bongbong Marcos ta maysa kadakami naka-avail [ti daytoy BBM rice].”
(This program is excellent because it helps us reduce our rice expenses. We purchase 25 kg of rice monthly, and at the market, it costs P55 per kilo. We are very grateful to President Bongbong Marcos, as we were among those who benefited from the BBM rice initiative.)
Utreta said that the NIA’s contract farming program has not yet been launched in the province, but four irrigator associations in Ilocos Sur are scheduled to participate in this program, set to launch in 2025.
He said, “Ti icon-considermi ket supply ti danum, siempre third crop, isu a daytoy Banaoang Pump [Irrigation System], dagidiay supplyan daytoy a four associations kas iti Macagi Irrigators Association, Cabukiran Irrigators Association, Camayan Irrigators Association, ken Bantay-San Ildefonso-Santo Domingo Irrigators Association tapno readily available ti danum.”
(We consider water availability as we aim for the third crop harvest of the farmers. To ensure a reliable water supply, we have identified four associations: the Macagi Irrigators Association, the Cabukiran Irrigators Association, the Camayan Irrigators Association, and the Bantay-San Ildefonso-Santo Domingo Irrigators Association. These associations are all supplied by the Banaoang Pump [Irrigation System], which ensures that water is readily available.)
The program provides partner irrigator associations with P50,000 in cash support and farm inputs to reduce farmers’ production costs.
“Inton ma-produceda diay five tons per hectare, addan to pay incentiveda another P50,000. So diay five tons a harvestda ket alaen ti NIA, isu ti ilaklakomi tatta,” he added.
(Once the farmers produce five tons of rice per hectare, they receive an additional incentive of P50,000. The NIA sells the five tons harvested to vulnerable groups in the region.)
Interested buyers can purchase BBM rice at the NIA offices located in the municipalities of Santa Maria, Tagudin, Santa Lucia, and San Ildefonso, depending on the supplies available from Ilocos Norte.
Each buyer must present an ID for verification and is limited to a maximum purchase of 10 kg per transaction per month. (AMB/JMCQ, PIA Ilocos Sur)
