The Department of Agriculture (DA) is intensifying measures to bring down the price of rice and pork, with new initiatives targeting both affordability and supply stability.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. announced on Monday that the agency will begin selling subsidized pork through Kadiwa outlets starting August, combining local and imported supplies—with local sources prioritized. The government, through Food Terminal Inc., will handle direct procurement, butchering, and distribution, cutting costs by up to ₱50 per kilo, according to Tiu Laurel.
The program will first roll out in Metro Manila, Metro Cebu, and Metro Davao, including selected DOLE-accredited organizations. No buying limit is planned for now, but resale will be prohibited. While the DA is not reinstating a suggested retail price (SRP) for local pork, it is studying an SRP of ₱270–₱300/kg for imported kasim and ₱300–₱350/kg for liempo.
In parallel, the DA and DOLE aim to expand the ₱20/kg rice program for minimum wage earners from 120,000 to up to 600,000 workers. Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said regional DOLE offices will vet qualified beneficiaries. To support the expansion, around 6,000 workers, mainly from the TUPAD program, may be hired to run retail outlets and provide logistics.
New agreements between the DA, DOLE, and the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) will also integrate 48 Dairy Box outlets into the Kadiwa network, boosting access to locally produced dairy and helping smallholder farmers connect to markets.
“These efforts won’t directly reach every Filipino, but they will ripple through the economy—stretching wages, improving farmer incomes, and stimulating growth,” Tiu Laurel said.
As of 13 June, non-subsidized local well-milled rice was selling for ₱38 to ₱52/kg, while pork belly reached up to ₱490/kg in NCR markets, underscoring the urgency of the DA’s affordability push.
