The National Irrigation Association (NIA) 5 (Bicol) is set to sell the Bagong Bayaning Magsasaka (BBM) rice in several remote areas in the Bicol region.

In an interview on Friday, NIA-Bicol General Manager Gaudencio de Vera said they scheduled the sale of cheap rice in various towns in three provinces for this month namely in Albay, Sorsogon, and Camarines Sur.

“We want everyone to be able to buy this BBM rice, especially those members of vulnerable sectors in various remote areas; we want them to know that the government is serious about this program,” de Vera said.

He said the BBM rice will be sold for only PHP29 per kilogram (kg) or PHP290 per 10-kg bag.

NIA-Bicol is scheduled to sell the BBM rice in Albay from Oct. 12-13 and Magarao town in Camarines Sur on Oct. 17.

De Vera said Libmanan town in Camarines Sur and Juban in Sorsogon are also scheduled this October but there are no definite dates yet for these areas.

He noted that selling low-priced grains is made possible by NIA’s Rice Contract Farming partnership with various irrigators’ associations (IAs) members in Bicol.

He assured the Bicolanos that the BBM rice program will continue as they are now meeting and assessing various irrigation associations for contract farming partnerships.

“Since they saw the impact, more IAs are interested in being part of the program. We have more than 3,000 hectares for 2025, and it will be participated in by IAs in four provinces in the region,” he said.

De Vera said vulnerable groups like senior citizens, persons with disabilities (PWDs), solo parents, and Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) members are priorities for the BBM rice.

“For our general public, we have a PHP35 per kilo of rice; they can buy this per kilo,” he said. (PNA)