Romualdez: Gov't wants P29/kilo rice available to 6.9M families

The Marcos administration  is eyeing to double the Kadiwa sites selling rice at P29 per kilo to reach 6.9  million families across the country at the soonest possible time, House Speaker Martin Romualdez said Friday.

Romualdez issued the statement after the Department of Agriculture launched a P29 rice program in 10 locations in National Capital Region and Bulacan. 

The P29 per kilo rice in selected Kadiwa sites will be available to vulnerable groups, including members of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) or conditional cash program which grants cash assistance to poorest of the poor families in exchange of complying with conditions promoting human development, senior citizens, persons with disabilities (PWDs) and solo parents.

“In the coming months, the government aims to double the number of [10] distribution sites and extend this initiative to the Visayas and Mindanao, ultimately reaching 6.9 million families across the country," he said.

Under the program, beneficiaries can buy P29 per kilo of rice every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, with a limit of 10 kilos per household each month. Each trial site is expected to support around 60,000 households monthly.

This expansion of availability of affordable rice, Romualdez said, is a key component of the government’s comprehensive strategy to combat inflation and ensure food security for all Filipinos.

"These programs reflect President Marcos' dedication to uplift the well-being of our people. We are making significant strides towards a future where every Filipino has access to affordable, nutritious food," he added.

Aside from the P29 per kilo rice project, Romualdez also touted the P22 billion aid for farmers, including support for mechanization under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund to increase local rice production as provided under the Rice Tariffication law.

“Through the P29 rice project and other market-stabilizing programs, we are not only making rice more affordable but also ensuring that our farmers receive the necessary support to thrive,” he said.

During his meeting with Philippine Rice Industry Stakeholders Movement (PRISM) last month, Romualdez said that rice prices would drop to as low as P42 per kilo by July following President Marcos’ executive order reducing rice import tariffs from 35% to 15% and PRISM’s commitment not to raise rice prices.

“This initiative is a testament to what we can achieve when we work together for the common good,” he said.

Then candidate Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr. promised to bring down the price of rice to P20 per kilo during his 2022 presidential campaign.

When Marcos, Jr. got elected, he said that the P20 per kilo rice price is an aspiration.—AOL, GMA Integrated News