The Department of Agriculture (DA) is completing preparations to sell rice in Kadiwa centers for the general public costing from P45 to P48 a kilo.
This so-called Rice for All program runs parallel to one that sells rice at the subsidized rate of P29 a kilo in markets around the country consistent with the bold campaign promise of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to make available the rice staple at the indicated price when elected. Rice at this price is meant for the marginalized sectors that include senior citizens, single parents, persons with disabilities and the beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino program.
But according to Arnel de Mesa, DA assistant secretary and spokesperson, the general consumption rice will not be sold in markets but rather in Kadiwa Centers nationwide numbering 300 at the moment.
“Our intention is for the public to have options and access to cheaper rice,” de Mesa told reporters on Monday.
He said the Rice for All program only has local government units (LGUs) as partners and deliberately so as not to upset the rice trade.
“We want this to be a sustainable and a long-gestating program. Our target is to make this implementable til the end of the President’s term,” de Mesa said.
Subsidized rice at P29 a kilo is initially being sold in ten sites including the offices of the Bureau of Animal Industry and National Irrigation Administration in Quezon City; Bureau of Plant Industry in Manila; Food Terminal Inc. in Taguig City; Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority in Las Pinas; Caloocan City; Valenzuela City; barangays Fortune and BF City in Marikina City; and San Jose del Monte City in Bulacan.
De Mesa said that by next month the P29-a-kilo rice program already includes Kadiwa centers in Visayas and Mindanao.
Public markets in the National Capital Region sell well-milled rice from P48 to P55 per kilo and regular milled rice from P45 to P52 per kilo.
The price of imported well-milled rice sells from P54 to P55 per kilo while imported regular milled rice sells from P47 to P51 per kg.
Imported rice sells from P55 to P63 a kilo for the special variety and P52 to P62 a kilo for premium.
For local rice, the special variety costs P57 to P65 per kilo and premium, P51 to P58 per kilo.
