NFA OKs sale of aging rice at P29 per kilo

The National Food Authority (NFA) has approved the sale of aging buffer stock of rice that is still in good condition for only P29 per kilo.

According to Bernadette Reyes’ report in 24 Oras on Thursday, the “Bigas 29” program will roll out in July to provide affordable rice to the vulnerable sector.

“Ine-ensure ng ating kagawaran na maganda yung quality na ipapamahagi, ibebenta,” said Department of Agriculture spokesperson Arnel de Mesa.

(Our department ensures that we will distribute or sell rice that is of good quality.)

The program, however, will only be limited to the beneficiaries of the government’s conditional cash transfer program, persons with disabilities, senior citizens and solo parents, the report said.

Among those who will benefit from the cheap rice are senior citizens like 79-year-old Rolito Bartolome who had to take a taxi cab to the Kadiwa Market in Quezon City just to purchase cheaper rice. 

But the senior citizen failed to make the cut when he arrived at the store. 

“Ang problema wala na pala kaming makuhang bigas…disappointed ako pero wala tayo magagawa kundi tanggapin na lang kulang eh,” said Bartolome.

(The problem is that we were not able to get any rice…I’m disappointed but I cannot do anything about it.) 

With the promise of affordable rice starting next month, the report said that the NFA would release guidelines to prevent hoarding.

Further, the “Bigas 29” program would allocate 10 kilos of rice per household. —Vince Angelo Ferreras/RF, GMA Integrated News