RICE is now available at P25 per kilo in Bacolod City in Negros Occidental, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said yesterday quoting a report from the National Irrigations Administration (NIA).
The PCO, in a statement, said the low-priced rice is being sold at the Bigasan Bayan in Bacolod City by members of the Federation of Irrigators Association of Central Negros-Bago River Irrigation System (FIACN-BRIS).
The FIACN-BRIS said 10 percent of their total rice production was allotted for the Negrenses in the vulnerable sectors, including senior citizens, indigents, and persons with disabilities (PWDs).
Consumers are limited to 5 kilos each per purchase.
President Marcos Jr., during the presidential campaign in 2022, has promised to bring down the per kilo price of rice to P20 during his administration.
NIA Administrator Eduardo Guillen said the lower prices of rice in Negros Occidental was a result of the combined efforts of the FIACN-BRIS, the provincial and local government units, and the NIA, as a “testament to the PBBM administration’s vision of combating hunger and poverty and achieving food sufficiency and security across the country.”
“NIA continues its commitment to developing efficient and sustainable irrigation systems to uplift the lives of the Filipino farmers with the aim of propelling wealth creation opportunities in the agricultural sector of the country,” Guillen said.
PCO said at least 455 individuals have already availed of the P25 per kilo of rice during the first day of selling at the Bigasang Bayan.
Meanwhile, Department of Agriculture (DA) assistant secretary Arnel de Mesa, on Saturday, said the average age of Filipino farmers has gone down to 49 to 50 years old from 57 years old, based on their registry system.
De Mesa said this means that more younger people are joining the agriculture sector, including those who have availed of early retirement and pursued farming.
He said based on the DA’s registry records, there are around 12 million farmers in the country with most of them involved in rice, corn, and coconut farming.
He said the figures also include fishermen and livestock growers.
Marcos, who is also the DA Secretary, has been actively advocating for younger generations, especially the youth, to help increase the productivity of the agriculture sector.
Apart from offering scholarship for agriculture-related courses, the DA also implements the Young Farmers Challenge (YFC) which offers financial grant assistance for the youth who will engage in new agri-fishery enterprises.
