Merry Mart Groceries Center Inc. joined the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) initiative to support the government’s effort to provide affordable rice to Filipino consumers. MerryMart is a company under the publicly-listed DoubleDragon Corp.
“We need more good corporate citizens like MerryMart who are ready to extend a helping hand to assist the government in looking after the welfare of Filipinos, especially those who need relief from unwarranted price pressures,” said DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. after signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for MerryMart’s participation in the KADIWA ng Pangulo (KNP) program.
MerryMart president Jacqueline Anna Marie Gomez signed the MOU, confirming the retail chain’s involvement in the government’s affordable rice program.
The partnership follows a meeting convened by the DA on Jan. 21, 2025, encouraging major retail networks to expand the distribution of affordable rice options such as the P29 rice and the Rice-for-All (RFA) program.
The RFA offers various well-milled rice varieties such as the RFA5 or 5-percent broken grains at P45 per kilogram, RFA25 or 25-percent broken at P38 per kg. and RFA100 or Sulit Rice fully-broken grains at P36 per kg. Othel V. Campos
The collaboration between MerryMart and the DA aims to address rising prices of essential commodities and ensure food security.
Under the agreement, MerryMart will offer rice at P29 per kg. It said the initiative is part of the company’s corporate social responsibility to make rice more accessible to Filipino families, particularly those feeling the impact of inflation.
The partnership also aligns with the government’s broader food security strategy, which focuses on increasing the income of small farmers, expanding markets for agricultural products and ensuring that essential goods are available at affordable prices.
The MOU also outlines plans for the distribution of other agri-fishery products at MerryMart locations.