CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA) — Providing affordable rice, especially to the vulnerable groups, the National Irrigation Administration (NIA)-10 held the nationwide launch of the “Kadiwa ng Pangulo Murang Bigas sa NIA @P29” at the NIA Agency Compound, Villaron Street, here, on September 13.
“Ang murang bigas nga nabaligya sa NIA gikan na siya sa contract farming program namo diri sa mga identified irrigation association within our irrigating area. Nag-target lang mi og pila ka ektarya,” said NIA Deputy Administrator for Engineering and Operations, Engr. C’zar Sulaik.
(The affordable rice being sold by NIA comes from our contract farming program with identified irrigation associations within our irrigating areas. We have targeted a specific number of hectares for this.)
He said they aimed to provide affordable rice at just P29 per kilo, prioritizing vulnerable groups such as senior citizens, persons with disabilities (PWDs), solo parents, and beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).
The event sold 700 bags of rice, each weighing 10 kilograms, to the targeted beneficiaries. The program seeks to help ease the burden of rising food costs on marginalized communities by offering affordable rice sourced directly from local farmers.
Sulaik added that farmers involved in the contract farming program are incentivized to produce up to five tons of rice. Those who meet this target receive an additional incentive of P50,000. This ensures a steady supply of rice, while also providing financial support to the farmers.
“Ang maka-avail niini katong mga marginalized nga mga katawhan (Those who can avail of this are the marginalized people),” Sulaik continued, emphasizing that the program prioritizes the most vulnerable sectors, preventing large-scale capitalists from hoarding the rice and selling it at higher prices.
For his part, Larry Franada, acting regional manager of NIA-10, explained that they strategized the coupon system to prevent individuals from returning repeatedly and potentially reselling the rice to others. He emphasized that the program is meant for everyone in need. In the future, the same strategy will be used, ensuring that only those who genuinely need assistance can benefit from it.
Local residents expressed their appreciation for the program, seeing it as a crucial support in their daily lives. Mila Galarpe, 69, from Zone 3, Barangay Carmen, was one of the beneficiaries of the program.
“Nalipay ko kay makakuha mi og bugas nga barato. Maayo unta nga magsige na ni siya (I am happy because we were able to get affordable rice. I hope this continues regularly),” she said. Although she initially forgot to bring her ID, she was grateful to be accommodated after returning with the necessary documents.
Solo parent Analyn Abuso, also from Barangay Carmen, shared her gratitude for the program, highlighting how it has helped her stretch her limited budget.
“Dako ko’g pasalamat ani nga programa sa atong presidente para sa akoa isip usa ka solo parent. Kung pulo ka kilo, P600 na baya pud. So, P290, so ma-save pa nato ang uban makapalit pa ta og sud-an,” said Abuso, appreciating how the savings from buying rice allowed her to buy additional food items for her family.
(I am very grateful for this program from our president for me as a solo parent. If it’s ten kilos, that’s already P600. So with P290, we can still save some and use it to buy other groceries.)
She also praised NIA and her local barangay officials for facilitating the program and ensuring that those in need could avail of the rice, despite the long lines and the need for patience.
Alongside the rice distribution, NIA-10 also facilitated the blessing of their newly acquired vehicles after a holy mass. This marks another step in NIA’s continued efforts to improve its services and ensure that essential goods reach the communities that need them most.
With the success of the event and the positive feedback from the beneficiaries, Franada said that NIA-10 is hopeful that programs like “Kadiwa ng Pangulo Murang Bigas” will continue to ease the economic struggles of the most vulnerable sectors in the region. (RTP/PIA-10)
