‘Bigas 29’ program to initially launch in Metro Manila, select areas

The government program that will sell aging stock of rice for only P29 per kilo will be initially launched in Metro Manila and nearby provinces, the National Food Authority (NFA) said Saturday.

“Initially po ito ay gagawin lamang sa mga piling lugar at mga KADIWA Centers natin. Pero ang sa amin naman pong pagpupulong sa Department of Agriculture (DA), ang intensyon po nito ay talaga po namang maging nationwide pero kailangan pong i-pilot muna sa mga KADIWA Centers,” said NFA administrator Larry Lacson in an interview with Super Radyo dzBB.  

(Initially, we will roll it out in selected areas and KADIWA centers. But in our discussion in the Department of Agriculture, the intention is really to implement it nationwide but we have to conduct a pilot run in KADIWA Centers.) 

The program, called ‘Bigas 29,’  will only be limited to the vulnerable sector such as beneficiaries of the government’s conditional cash transfer program, persons with disabilities, senior citizens and solo parents. 

The DA earlier said that the program is expected to benefit 6.9 million households or approximately 34 million individuals.

The NFA assured that the aging stocks to be sold are of good quality and haVE undergone inspection. 

“Mayroon tayong sinusunod na standard na kapag sinabi mong naka-tatlong buwan na ang bigas, pwede na natin siyang i-consider as aging stock. Pero in reality, tatlong buwan na bigas, hindi po old stock ‘yan. Sa papel lamang natin nasasabi na aging stock ‘yan,” said Lacson. 

(We follow a standard that when we say the rice is three-months old, we can already consider it as an aging stock. But in reality, a three-month old stock is not really an old stock. It is only in papers that it is an aging stock.) 

“Tsaka po hindi naman kami naglalabas ng bigas sa NFA, whether it’s a regular rice natin na zero to three months or three months above, nang hindi po nasuri,” he added.

(We don't release rice in the NFA that did not undergo proper inspection.) —Vince Angelo Ferreras/ VAL, GMA Integrated News