THE Department of Agriculture (DA) has expanded its P29 rice program to three more Kadiwa centers in Metro Manila.
DA added sites in Malabon, Navotas and Nangka, Marikina where senior citizens, persons with disabilities, solo parents and members of government’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino program can buy rice for P29 per kg.
The P29 per kg rice is initially being rolled out 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.
Genevieve Velicaria-Guevarra, DA assistant secretary for consumer and legislative affairs who oversees the KADIWA program, said three more sites may also be opened in two neighboring provinces of Metro Manila before end-July.
“We continue to learn from this large-scale trial, particularly on the demand for low-priced rice, amount and source of supply and logistics needed to sustain this program and expand it across the country. We are also looking at areas outside Metro Manila where there are plenty of vulnerable households…,” Guevarra added.
Earlier, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. also asked all local government units in Metro Manila to identify suitable sites for Kadiwa centers to expand the reach of programs that can provide more affordably-priced food.
Kadiwa centers provide a rent-free market place for farmers cooperatives and associations to sell their harvest and produce like vegetables, fish, eggs, pork and chicken at wholesale prices. Other food producers also sell discounted canned and manufactured goods.
Aside from P29 rice, selected Kadiwa centers will also start selling the food staple under the Rice for All program where well-milled rice will be made available to general consumers at prices lower than prevailing market prices of the same quality grain.
DA said the price of rice to be sold under the Rice for All program would range between P45 to P48 per kg.
