More than 2,000 people from Oriental Mindoro were able to buy rice at P29 a kilo at the Post-SONA (State of the Nation Address) Forum held on October 10 at Oriental Mindoro National High School Gymnasium, Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro.
Each beneficiary, belonging to vulnerable sectors such as senior citizens, persons with disabilities (PWDs), solo parents, and members of the Pantawid Pamilya Pilipino Program (4Ps), was able to buy 10 kilograms of Bagong Bayaning Magsasaka (BBM) rice under the Kadiwa ng Pangulo.
The Kadiwa ng Pangulo is one of the programs offered by the National Irrigation Administration (NIA). It is in addition to the turnover of communal irrigation projects, the awarding of subsidies to Irrigation Associations, and certificates of condonation and exemption to land owners during the event.
Diana C. Diamante, a 40-year-old solo parent from San Antonio, Calapan City, said that the cheap rice enabled her to provide daily sustenance to her children.
“Malaking tulong [ang murang bigas] lalo na sa mga solo parent kagaya ko na kaunti lang ang kinikita sa araw-araw. Maraming maraming salamat po at nagkaroon ng ganitong klaseng programa,” Diamante said.
(This is a huge help, especially for solo parents like me who earn so little a day. I am very grateful for this kind of program.)
Edilberto Natividad from Brgy. Balete said he can cut his expenses for rice to almost half because of the program.
“Bumili po kami ng bigas sa project ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos. Ito po ay malaking tulong dahil murang bigas,” he added.
The Post-SONA forum aims to highlight the successful programs under the administration of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos, Jr. following his SONA in July 2024.
Moreover, other government agencies were present, such as the Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Department of Agrarian Reform, Social Security System, PAGIBIG, PhilHealth, Department of Trade and Industry, and Philippine Statistics Authority, during the activity to extend their services to the public. (DSG/PIA MIMAROPA – Occidental Mindoro)
