DA to launch P45/kilo 'Rice-for-All' program on Aug. 1

The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Wednesday announced it is set to launch a new initiative aimed at making rice affordable for Filipino consumers.

In a news release, the DA said it will launch the Rice-for-All program on Thursday, August 1, 2024.

The new program is a follow up to the P29 Rice Program, which makes available for sale cheaper rice at P29 per kilo only for vulnerable sectors.

“Rice under the Rice-for-All program will initially be sold at P45 a kilo. It will be adjusted depending on the movement of rice prices but it will definitely be lower than retail prices in general,” said Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.

The DA said 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. 

For his part, DA Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Arnel de Mesa said that 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.

De Mesa added that the new program seeks to help more Filipino consumers cope with the impact of high food prices, which significantly influence inflation and consequently interest rates. 

Tiu Laurel, likewise, said the Rice-for-All program would be another step towards realizing the vision of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. to ensure the availability of affordable food.

“President Marcos wants to ensure that every Filipino has access to affordable food during these trying times,” the DA chief said.

“In line with this, we will continue to expand the Kadiwa network and make available more basic goods to the general public,” Tiu Laurel said.

De Mesa, meanwhile, said that the Rice-for-All program will also help the DA prolong the P29 Rice Program.

He 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. —KBK, GMA Integrated News