Lady Vicencio, ABS-CBN News

MANILA — The price of well-milled rice sold under the Rice-For-All Program will decrease to P43 from P45 per kilo, the Department of Agriculture (DA) announced on Thursday. 

Selling of rice at P43 per kilo under the program will start on Friday in Kadiwa sa Pangulo sites in Luzon. 

DA Spokesperson Assistant Secretary Arnel De Mesa told reporters that the price adjustment comes as the prevailing price of rice in markets is on a decline. The Agriculture Department said average prices of locally-produced regular and well-milled rice are pegged at P45 to P48 per kilo. Imported rice is sold at P42 to P45 per kilo. 

“Itong rice for all, binababaan lang natin ang presyo kasi nakakita na tayo ng pagbaba sa merkado eh sa presyo ng bigas. 13 to 20 percent lower lagi ang Kadiwa products natin in terms of prices. Yung bigas natin normally 5 peso lower sa prevailing market prices,” De Mesa said. 

Aside from its Rice-For-All Program, select Kadiwa sites continue to sell aging rice stocks of the National Food Authority for P29 per kilo. DA will be adding 20 additional Kadiwa sites that will offer cheaper rice compared to market prices. 

The following Kadiwa sites will be selling rice every day for P43 and P29 starting October 11: 

1. Ocean Fish – Brgy. 8, Caloocan

2. Brgy 28 Zone 3 Caloocan City – Site 1

3. Brgy 28 Zone 3 Caloocan City – Site 2

4. BFAR – Longos, Malabon City

5. Kalt Alles – NFPC-PFDA, NBBN, Navotas

6. 18 Tuazon, Brgy. Potrero, Malabon

7. Kalt Alles – Potrero, Malabon

8. Sauyo, Quezon City

9. Brgy. Canlubang, Calamba, Laguna Compound

10. Brgy. Daang Bakal, Mandaluyong

11. Brgy Hulo Mandaluyong City

12. Brgy. Addition Hills-

13. BFCT Bagsakan, No. 1 Marcos Hiway, Marikina City

14. Brgy. Tanong, Marikina

15. Fortune Barangay Hall, Barangay Fortune, Marikina City

16. Concepcion Uno Barangay Hall, Concepcion Uno, Marikina City

17. Lot 12 Blk 4 R Thaddeus St Marietta Romeo Village Brgy. Sta. Lucia Pasig City

18. No 4 Geronimo, Philand Drive, Brgy Pasong Tamo, QC

19. Zamora St. Cor A. Bonifacio, Brgy Sta. Lucia, Quezon City

20. Alley 4, Bulacan St., Brgy. Payatas B, Quezon City

The latest data from the DA showed Kadiwa sa Pangulo has served 142,000 households with 126,000 kilos sold from the Rice-For-All Program and 722,000 kilos of P29 rice dispatched. 

DA wants to set up a total of 169 Kadiwa sa Pangulo sites by year-end.

AMAS Director Junibert de Sagun added that the expansion is being implemented slowly but surely, prioritizing areas that need the program most to ensure its sustainability.

“Yon ang maraming taong bibili. Ang isang critical na criteria is ‘yong availability ng permanent structure na kayang magstore, mag-imbak ng bigas at produkto,” de Sagun said.

Published Date: October 11, 2024