P29 per kilo rice available to vulnerable groups in Tabuk on June 13 – NIA Cordillera

Tabuk City, Philippines – Affordable rice priced at P29 per kilo will be made available to vulnerable sectors in Tabuk City on Friday, June 13.

In a report, the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) in Cordillera said a total of 500 rice bags, each containing 10 kilograms, will be sold at NIA–Kalinga in Barangay Bulanao, Tabuk City.

The limited supply will be reserved for senior citizens, persons with disabilities (PWDs), 4Ps beneficiaries, and solo parents. Upon presentation of valid ID, each beneficiary may avail one 10-kilogram bag.

Another 500 bags available at NIA–Kalinga sub-office in Isabela

Another 500 bags will be offered at the NIA-Kalinga Irrigation Management sub-office in Quezon, Isabela, also on Friday.

Recipients must be from said vulnerable groups, who must likewise present valid IDs when they buy the said rice.

The rice is part of the product line of Bagong Bayaning Magsasaka (BBM), a partnership between NIA and local irrigators’ associations (IAs) under the agency’s Farming Support Services Program.

Through a contract farming model, the program assists farmers during the planting and harvest cycle. The program then purchases part of their yield to sell at affordable prices through Kadiwa ng Pangulo events.

“In CAR, pilot areas where IAs signed contract with NIA for the program are located in national and communal irrigation systems under NIA Kalinga Irrigation Management Office (IMO) and NIA-Apayao IMO,” said NIA–Cordillera.

As of June 9, NIA–Cordillera already sold 36,499 bags of BBM rice at various events. Meantime, about 9,576 bags are expected to be harvested from 38 hectares in Apayao to be sold to the same groups.