NIA holds PHP29/kg rice sale in Davao del Norte

The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) 11 held another 'PHP29 na Bigas sa Kadiwa ng Pangulo' event on October 4 in Carmen, Davao del Norte.

Acting division manager Nelson Sahot of NIA-Davao del Norte invited the public to participate and purchase discounted rice at PHP29 per kilogram, with a focus on vulnerable groups such as senior citizens, people with disabilities, solo parents, and members of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).

The event distributed around 1,400 bags of 'Bagong Bayaning Magsasaka (BBM) Rice,' each weighing 10 kilograms, on a first-come, first-served basis.

This initiative is part of a contract farming program covering 4.5 hectares in Barangay Gabuyan, Kapalong, Davao del Norte, aiming to produce up to five metric tons of rice per hectare and providing PHP50,000 worth of farm inputs to participating farmers.

Engineer Brendo Audiencia, operations unit head at NIA-Davao del Norte IMO, noted that while only 32 out of the targeted 150 contract farmers have enrolled so far, another round of discounted rice will be offered to the public in November.