QUEZON CITY (PIA) — The Department of Agriculture (DA) officially rolled out the KADIWA ng Pangulo’s Rice-for-All program today, Dec. 5 in select public markets across the National Capital Region (NCR), aiming to provide consumers with affordable rice while addressing high retail prices.
Under the initiative, KADIWA ng Pangulo kiosks will sell rice at P40 per kilo, a significant reduction from the program’s initial price of P45 per kilo. These kiosks, operated in partnership with the Food Terminal Inc., will be open Tuesdays to Saturdays from 8 am to 5 pm, including strategic locations such as MRT and LRT stations.
Rice selling at P40/kg at Malabon Central Market. (KADIWA FB page)
“This rollout is part of our commitment to shield consumers from inflationary pressures,” said Assistant Secretary Genevieve Guevarra, head of the KADIWA program. The gradual reduction in rice prices, with the most recent drop from P43 to P40 starting Thursday, highlights the government’s dedication to ensuring affordable food access.
The initial rollout includes major NCR public markets such as:
- Kamuning Market
- Malabon Central Market
- New Las Piñas City Public Market
- Pasay City Public Market
- Balintawak Market
- Cartimar Market
- Pateros Grace Marketplace
- Maypajo Public Market
- Paco Market
The Rice-For-All program of KADIWA ng Pangulo in Kamuning Public Market, Malabon Central Market, Guadalupe Market, Pasay City Public Market, and New Las Pinas City Public Market at P40 per kilo. (KADIWA FB page)
Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. emphasized that deploying kiosks to these markets would encourage fair pricing among rice retailers and address potential profiteering by unscrupulous traders. “We aim to expand this program to other regions where rice prices remain disproportionately high,” Secretary Laurel said.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has approved an additional P5 billion budget for both the Rice-for-All program and the P29 rice initiative, strengthening the DA’s capacity to implement measures for price stabilization and food security.
This program is the government’s commitment to ensuring accessible and affordable rice for Filipino families, marking a significant step toward alleviating the burden of rising food costs on consumers. (AVS / PIA-NCR)
