MANILA - The Department of Agriculture is set to launch a large-scale trial of the Bigas 29 program, which sells P29 per kilo rice to vulnerable sectors of society.

From a pilot run of three sites, the DA said it will make cheaper rice available to 10 sites in Metro Manila and Bulacan.

The launch will be held on Friday, July 5, with various agriculture officials gracing all Kadiwa sites simultaneously.

Agriculture spokesperson Asec. Arnel de Mesa said the program had been planned long ago.

This is amid criticisms on social media that the program is a band-aid solution to high prices of rice, and is designed only for optics.

"Itong programa na ito ay matagal na naplano, bago pa pumasok si Secretary, this is not only for the SONA, this will be a long-term program and sustainable," he said.

(This program was planned ahead, way before Secretary [Francisco Tiu Laurel] assumed office. This isn't just for the SONA. This will be a long-term and sustainable program.)

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"We're doing it in a series of trials para masigurado na nationwide, wala na problema," De Mesa added.

(We're doing a series of trials to ensure that the nationwide rollout will have no problems.)

The ten sites will sell cheap rice from Friday to Sunday.

Based on market research of the department, more people buy rice during the weekend or during paydays.

Three hundred sacks of rice will be allotted per site per week, and each site will be open from 8-5 pm or until supplies last.

Asked how much money will be spent in subsidizing the rice, DA said they're yet to compute the needed budget for the program.

Each beneficiary will be limited to 10 kilos per month, and names and IDs are being recorded to prevent abuse.

"Nililista po natin para makita natin kung sino ang mga umuulit, pero base sa listahan, wala naman kami nakikitang umuulit doon," said Asec. Genevieve Velicaria-Guevarra of the Consumer and Legislative Affairs Division of the Department of Agriculture.

(We're listing down names to check who buys more than the limit. So far, we have not seen repeaters.)

Another program, the Rice For All, is on the pipeline to sell cheaper rice to all Filipinos.

Rice prices have been the single biggest factor for the high inflation in recent months.