Quezon city: The Department of Agriculture (DA) has extended sympathies and assistance to the bereaved family of a senior citizen who lost his life in a tragic accident outside the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) rice selling center in Quezon City early Wednesday morning. The senior citizen was killed while another sustained injuries when a pickup truck suddenly swerved into a gutter along Visayas Avenue and hit them, based on the initial police report.

According to Philippines News Agency, the victims were reportedly waiting along the sidewalk in the early hours for the opening of the BAI office to access the PHP20 per kilogram rice program under the Benteng Bigas Meron (BBM) initiative. In a statement, DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. assured necessary assistance to the bereaved family of the senior citizen. "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."

For her part, Agriculture Assistant Secretary Genevieve Velicaria-Guevarra also expressed sympathy for the victims and urged the public to use the online scheduling system to avoid long queues. "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 said. She assured qualified beneficiaries that there are sufficient rice stocks under the government's cheaper rice program.

The DA, meanwhile, vowed to work closely with law enforcement while the investigation is underway.