MANILA, Philippines — A senior citizen was killed while another individual was injured following an accident outside the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) offices along Visayas Avenue, Quezon City early on Wednesday.
According to initial police investigation, the victims were waiting along the sidewalk for the opening of the BAI office—where P20-per-kilogram rice is sold under the Benteng Bigas, Meron Na! (BBM Na!) program—when a pickup truck swerved onto the gutter. The incident happened two hours before the government's subsidized rice operations were set to begin.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. extended his condolences to the family of the victim.
“We mourn the loss of a senior citizen whose life was tragically taken in this accident,” he said. “The Department of Agriculture is committed to extending all necessary assistance to the victim’s family and to the injured individual during this difficult time.”
Assistant Secretary Genevieve Velicaria-Guevarra, who heads the Kadiwa ng Pangulo program, also urged beneficiaries to avoid lining up too early and to use the online scheduling system, assuring the public that there is sufficient rice supply for the program.
“We are deeply saddened by what happened,” Guevarra said. “While we understand the eagerness of beneficiaries to secure their rice allocation, we encourage everyone to avoid lining up too early. We want to assure the public that there is sufficient rice supply available for those in need.”
She added that the DA would cooperate closely with the police investigation.
