DA TO SELL AGING RICE STOCKS FOR ‘BIGAS 29’ PROGRAM

The Department of Agriculture (DA) will formally launch the "Bigas 29" program that aims to sell cheaper rice to many Filipinos. But what will be sold are aging rice stocks, the government insists it is safe to eat. The National Food Authority (NFA) announced that the rice is from their aging stock or the old ones but the quality is still good. 

The government aims to help poor Filipino families on buying cheaper price of rice by launching ‘Bigas 29’ program (Photo courtesy of Philippine News Agency)

According to the definition of the NFA, the aging stock is rice that is more than three months old or rice that is more than six months old, while the DA ensured that it is still safe to eat.

“The NFA will not release stocks that are unfit for human consumption. They have a procedure there if the old one can really not be sold. Before being released, it undergoes through laboratory tests,” DA Spokesperson Secretary Arnel de Mesa.

The NFA council approved the sale of paddy stocks to help poor Filipino families buy cheaper rice, and to prevent it from rotting. It is expected that nearly 7 million families numbering about 6.9 million households, or over 34 million Filipinos consisting of single parents, PWDs, and members of the 4Ps will benefit from this. 

This July, the Department of Agriculture and the NFA will formally launch “Bigas 29” and sell it to the indigenous people. But for the first rule, only 10 kilos per month can be sold to each beneficiary family.

“This program primarily aims to provide rice at an affordable price of P29 per kilo [to] the vulnerable sectors of society,” Agriculture Sec. Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said.

This is to prevent the hoarding and reselling of cheap rice by those who can buy it. The National Food Authority also plans to import more than 363,697 metric tons (MT) of rice to supplement the stock if needed. This is to ensure that rice can be sold in Kadiwa stores for 29 pesos per kilo.

De Mesa had previously stated that Bigas 29 was supposed to go into effect in August. However, it seems that the government’s fight against inflation is what caused it to advance.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer

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