Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. on Friday bared a commitment to widen the government’s affordable rice program beyond Luzon where the staple is sold at only P29 a kilo under an ongoing pilot program.
Secretary Tiu Laurel also issued a statement thanking those sectors that helped launch the program successfully.
“I extend my deepest gratitude to all who have tirelessly dedicated themselves to the successful launch of the large-scale trial of the P29 Rice Program. From our tireless team at the DA, to the farmers’ cooperatives and associations, to the selfless military and policemen who volunteered their efforts to ensure affordable rice reaches our KADIWA centers and vulnerable households, you have exemplified the true spirit of Bayanihan—the belief that ‘We’ is greater than ‘Me’. Maraming salamat po,” the agri chief said.
But more than that, Tiu Laurel said the larger goal has not only been to sell an affordable rice staple that the poor and the disadvantaged can afford but one that has quality as well.
“In addition to P29 rice, the DA and its affiliated agencies and corporations are actively developing plans to make well-milled rice available to the public through KADIWA centers at prices lower than prevailing market rates,” he said.
This trial period presents a crucial opportunity to gather comprehensive data on various aspects including demand, supply, and logistics that would ensure the success of the full implementation of P29, an initiative spearheaded by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to ease the burden of high prices on essential goods, particularly rice, for the poor, senior citizens, solo parents, and persons with disabilities. Our goal is to expand the number of KADIWA centers offering P29 rice in the coming weeks and extend this network to the Visayas and Mindanao by late August or early September, in collaboration with local government units, farmers’ cooperatives, and private businesses,” the agri chief said.
