The Federation of Irrigators’ Association of Central Negros-Bago River Irrigation System (FIACN-BRIS) continues to sell the PHP20 per kg. rice as part of their commitment to make affordable rice available to vulnerable groups in the province.

In an interview on Wednesday, FIACN-BRIS president Pedro Limpangog said they sold 2,500 kg. of rice in the latest “Bigasan ng Bayan” in Pulupandan, Negros Occidental on Tuesday.

“Almost every month, we allocate supply for this program. We started selling at PHP25 per kg. and we decided to align this initiative to the PHP20 per kg. rice program of the President (Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.),” he added.

Limpangog said in Pulupandan, they sold rice at five kgs. each to 500 beneficiaries, particularly senior citizens, persons with disabilities, solo parents, and Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program beneficiaries.

Last month, the FIACN-BRIS’ Bigasan ng Bayan went to Murcia town and also sold 2,500 kg. of rice.

The “Bigasan ng Bayan”, then selling PHP25 per kg. rice, started in October 2023 at the province’s Food Terminal Market in Bacolod City.

“The provincial government continues to provide us with farm inputs to help us expand this program. By June, we can have more supply. We aim to bring the ‘Bigasan ng Bayan’ to more areas in the province,” Limpangog said.

The Negros Occidental provincial government is working with the FIACN-BRIS, which is under the National Irrigation Administration-Negros Occidental Irrigation Management Office, for its Dagyaw Project to produce high-yield rice at a lower production cost. (PNA)