The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) made the P29 per kilogram of rice available to qualified Negrenses at the Kadiwa ng Pangulo store of the Negros Occidental Irrigation Management Office (IMO) in Bago City yesterday.

Some 1,000 bags, each containing 10 kilos of rice, were sold to senior citizens, persons with disabilities, solo parents, and Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program beneficiaries.

“Our target is for every IMO to establish a Kadiwa ng Pangulo center where we can sell lower priced rice,” NIA-Western Visayas Acting Regional Manager Jonel Borres said in a statement.

The Bagong Bayaning Magsasaka Rice, a product of the Farming Support Services Program, is one of the pilot projects of NIA.

“It’s harvest season. Our production areas are distributed across Region 6, including Negros Occidental,” Borres said.

He added that NIA-6 plans to expand the current around 1,200 hectares of planting sites next year to provide more rice supply and cater to more sectors other than the current vulnerable groups benefiting from the P29 per kilo of rice.

From October 25 last year to February this year, the Federation of Irrigators Association of Central Negros-Bago River Irrigation System, which is under the NIA-Negros Occidental IMO, also sold rice at P25 per kilo to qualified Negrenses in Bacolod City, Bago City, and Pulupandan town.

Through the “Bigasan ng Bayan” program, in collaboration with the provincial government, the FIACN-BRIS sold 14,675 kilograms of milled rice to priority beneficiaries, including senior citizens, persons with disability, and indigents. (PNA)