The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Saturday assured beneficiaries of its “Bigas 29” program will be provided with good quality rice.

“Actually, magagandang klase ito na bigas kasi matandaan natin ang NFA (National Food Authority), ang bigas niya ay galing doon sa locally-procured palay… na magaganda iyong mga palay,” DA Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said in a news forum in Quezon City.

“Actually iyong bigas, ang kagandahan niyan, habang tumatagal lalong sumasarap at nagiging mas good quality lalo na iyong up to one year,” he added.

De Mesa added that the aging stocks of rice will undergo NFA’s laboratory and sensory test.

“Ito three months at para mas sigurado pa na maayos talaga, mayroong test – laboratory at sensory test na ginagawa ang NFA sa bawat batch na nilalabas especially sa mga aging stocks natin,” he noted.

The Bigas 29 program recently approved by the NFA Council aims to provide affordable rice worth P29 per kilogram for select beneficiaries.

Aging stocks are rice that have been stocked for three months and palay or unhusked rice that has been stocked for six months.

De Mesa said Bigas 29 will benefit about 6.9 million households or approximately 34 million individuals.

Among the beneficiaries are the vulnerable sector, including members of the government’s conditional cash transfer program, senior citizens, persons with disabilities (PWDs), and solo parents.

The Agriculture Department is addressing logistical, administrative, and financial concerns to ensure a smooth rollout of the program next month.

“Nagkaroon na tayo ng trial period ngayon, ongoing, para makita natin iyong mga posibleng logistical, administrative and financial concerns na gusto namin maging maayos bago magkaroon ng rollout, again, within July,” De Mesa said. PND