The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) launched on Tuesday the Bagong Bayaning Magsasaka (BBM) rice for the vulnerable sectors and those affected by tropical cyclones Kristine and Leon in Antique.

The BBM rice was available through the one-day Kadiwa ng Pangulo, catering to senior citizens, members of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), solo parents, and families affected by Kristine and Leon, NIA-Antique head Bernard Castellano said in an interview.

“We have 990 bags of 10 kilos of rice sold at PHP290 (each),” he said. “We are only selling BBM rice for a maximum of 10 kilos so that more people could benefit.”

A kilo of BBM rice at PHP29 per kilo is lower than the PHP50 per kilo of commercial rice in the market.

The stocks were from newly harvested produce under the contract farming program with the irrigators association (IAs) in San Jose de Buenavista, Hamtic, Barbaza, and Sibalom, the rice granary of Antique.

He said Kadiwa also displayed fresh vegetables and fruits and processed agricultural products.

Meanwhile, senior citizens Myrna Cepeda Conrtejo and Artemio Cocjin of San Jose de Buenavista said they were grateful to avail of the BBM rice for a much lower price.

“The 10 kilos of rice would be enough for our month-long consumption,” Cortejo, a newly retired employee at the Antique Provincial Engineering Office still waiting for her pension, said.

Cocjin, on the other hand, said he could have more savings for their other family needs. (PNA)