Consumers flock to Kadiwa for P45-per-kilo rice

Customers flocked to the Kadiwa Center at the Bureau of Plant and Industry in San Andres, Manila to buy rice at P45 per kilo.

According to Marisol Abdurahman's report on "24 Oras," the discounted grains were available to all consumers unlike the P29-per-kilo available only for the poor.

Each individual may avail of up to 25 kilos of rice.

“Sa labas, nasa P45 to P55 sa ngayon sa monitoring sa DA. Nababawasan layers ng middlemen [at] traders kaya yun prosynete o gap na yun nawawala. Definitely, mas lower and price sa Kadiwa,” said Department of Agriculture Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa.

(The DA monitored rice prices from 45 to P55. There are fewer layers between middlemen [and] traders, which cut the gap. Definitely, prices are lower at the Kadiwa)

The DA and the BPI said that the quality of the rice was well-milled despite the low price.

“Malinis, wala namang kasamang dumi, and as an additional guarantee sa ating mamimili, ito’y ating tine-testing food safety sa microbiological contaminants [at] pesticide residues,” BPI Director Glenn Pangabiban said.

(It is clean, there's no dirt, and as an additional guarantee for our customers, we are testing it for food safety from microbiological contaminants [and] pesticide residues) 

Many customers lined up to avail of the P29-per-kilo rice.

“Malaking bagay po kasi di po namin talaga afford ang P54 [to] P55 [na] pinakamura[ng bigas],” said customer Myrna Batucan.

(It’s a big deal because we can’t afford P54 [to] P55 cheapest [rice]) 

The low price was offered under the DA’s Rice-for-All program which aims to help Filipinos adjust to the high prices of food.

The program is available at Kadiwa Centers in FTI in Taguig City, the Bureau of Plant Industry in Manila, Potrero in Malabon, and  Caloocan. —Jiselle Anne C. Casucian/NB, GMA Integrated News