The government’s Rice for All program is now in progress in four (4) Kadiwa sites. The Department of Agriculture (DA) said the program was rolled out Wednesday, August 1.
The four Kadiwa outlets are located at the Food Terminal Inc. in Taguig City; Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) in Manila, Potrero, Malabon; and Llano Road in Caloocan, which l operate every Thursday to Saturday. DA Asst. Secretary Arnel de Mesa told media that under the program, commercial well-milled rice shall be sold at P45 per kilo at the sites.
“This is one of the steps of the government to tame the effects of food items on inflation. So, lower the prices, and of course, also pull down market prices,” de Mesa said, adding the prices of imported commercial well-milled rice range from P51 to P55 per kilo, while local well-milled rice ranges from P45/kilo to P55/kilo.
De Mesa clarified, however, that DA has set a 25-kilo daily purchase limit per buyer to avoid abuse. “We decided to set a limit because we have experiences that when you allow it with no limit, those who have the means buy huge volumes and probably resell it,” he explained.
He said a long-term rollout of Rice for All is possible considering that its supply will come from both farmers cooperatives and associations (FCAs) and private traders. The program, he added, will be expanded alongside the operations of the sale of aging but good quality rice at P29/kilo to the vulnerable sector including members of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), senior citizens, solo parents, and persons with disabilities (PWDs).
Presently, there are 17 Kadiwa sites implementing the P29/kil0 program including outlets in the Bureau of Animal Industry dome and National Irrigation Administration in Quezon City; Bureau of Plant Industry in Malate, Manila; Food Terminal Inc. in Taguig City; Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority in Las Piñas; Bayani Fernando Central Terminal or BFCT and Barangay Fortune in Marikina; Llano in Caloocan; Valenzuela; Pantao Fisherfolks Consumer Cooperative in Malabon; Navotas Institute in Navotas; San Jose del Monte, Bulacan; Antipolo City; Bacoor, Cavite; San Pedro City Hall and Santa Rosa in Laguna.
The DA earlier said it has plans to expand the program in the Visayas and Mindanao.