KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato (PIA) – Sixty-seven-year-old Cesaria Fe Dondoyano thanked the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) in Region 12 and the national government for providing P29 per kilogram of rice, noting this has helped people like her.
“This is a huge help for us. We used to spend P550 for 10 kilos of rice, but now it’s almost half that price,” Dondonayo said.
NIA-Region XII launched the “Kadiwa ng Pangulo Murang Bigas mula kay BBM (Bagong Bayaning Magsasaka), at the NIA Regional Office 12-Kadiwa Center, Koronadal City, South Cotabato, on Friday, Aug. 9, 2024.
Salvacion Dela Cruz, 61, also expressed her relief at the timing of the program, especially with rising inflation.
“This really helps us provide rice for our families. Since it’s available every Friday, we can save money and buy more,” she said.
This new initiative from the NIA sells milled rice for just P29 per kilogram, compared to the typical market price of P55.
NIA immediately sold out its first offering in Koronadal City, which included 700 kilos of rice in 10-kilo bags priced at P290 each.
According to NIA, the P29-per-kilo rice will be available at the NIA Kadiwa Center every Friday, prioritizing senior citizens, persons with disabilities (PWD), solo parents, and beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).
Meanwhile, Koronadal City Mayor Eliordo Ogena, PhilRice-Midsayap Director Sailila L. Abdula, DA Regional Executive Director Roberto T. Perales, and AMAD Chief Esmael M. Intao were also present at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the launch.
During her speech, Engr. Teresita R. Pieldad, division manager A of NIA-Region 12, expressed gratitude for the support from PhilRice Midsayap, the DA-Region 12, and local government units.
She highlighted that this program is part of NIA’s contract farming initiative.
“President Marcos also has a contract farming program, which provides funds to support farmers, from supplying farm inputs to bringing rice to our Kadiwa stores,” she said.
NIA has also partnered with 201 irrigation associations (IA) across SOCCSKSARGEN, involving 5,434 farmers to provide vulnerable people with staples, such as rice.
As cooperators in the NIA contract farming program, participating IAs collect only 5 tons, or 100 cavans per hectare, from each cooperating farmer; they mill and sell half of these at P29 per kilo in Kadiwa ng Pangulo stores. (SZT/DED – PIA 12)
