The Department of Agriculture launched on August 1 in selected KADIWA centers the widely-anticipated Rice-for-All Program, a follow up to the successful P29 Rice Program introduced last month.
The Rice-for-All Program, Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. said, is another step towards realizing the vision of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to ensure the availability of affordable food, particularly rice, to every Filipino.
“President Marcos wants to ensure that every Filipino has access to affordable food during these trying times. In line with this, we will continue to expand the KADIWA network and make available more basic goods to the general public,” Sec. Tiu Laurel said.
“Rice under the Rice-for-All program will initially be sold at P45 a kilo. It will be adjusted depending the movement of rice prices but it will definitely be lower than retail prices in general,” he added.
The Rice-for-All Program would sell to the general public well-milled rice sourced from rice importers and local traders at a limit of 25 kilos per customer per day.
Agriculture Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said the program seeks to help more Filipino consumers cope with the impact of high food prices, which significantly influence inflation and consequently interest rates. He said the Rice-for-All program will also help the DA prolong the P29 Rice Program.
“In addition to the existing P29 Rice, the Rice-for-All Program will be offered initially in four Kadiwa outlets: FTI in Taguig City, the Bureau of Plant Industry in Manila, Potrero in Malabon, and in Caloocan,” said Asec. de Mesa.
Meantime, Asec de Mesa said the P29 Rice Program will be extended to two more areas—Sta. Rosa City in Laguna and Antipolo City in Rizal—increasing the network covered by the program to 17 sites.
The 17 KADIWA outlets that are operational for the P29 Rice Program are located in the following areas: Bureau of Animal Industry and National Irrigation Administration in Quezon City; Bureau of Plant Industry in Manila; Food Terminal Inc. in Taguig City; PhilFIDA in Las Piñas; Prang Covered Gym in Marikina City; Llano, Caloocan City; Valenzuela City; PFCC in Malabon; Navotas Institute in Navotas City; Brgy. Fortune and BF City in Marikina City; San Jose del Monte City in Bulacan; Bacoor, Cavite; San Pedro City Hall in Laguna; Sta. Rosa City Hall in Laguna; and Antipolo City, Rizal.
“Both the P29 Rice and Rice-for-All programs are designed to make this essential staple more accessible and affordable for every Filipino, in line with President Marcos’ vision of ‘Walang magugutom sa Bagong Pilipinas,” said de Mesa. ###
