President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. ordered the Department of Agriculture (DA) and other government agencies to scale up affordable rice initiatives, including the P29 per kilo rice and Rice-for-All (RFA) programs.
In a meeting at Malacañang with officials from the DA, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), and the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), President Marcos emphasized the need to stabilize rice prices, particularly through the P29 and RFA programs, which are designed to offer low-cost rice to Filipinos.
He urged the DA to work closely with the Department of Finance (DOF) and the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) to address factors contributing to rising food prices, including high farm input costs and climate-related challenges affecting crop yields.
Since its launch, the P29 Program has provided rice to over 140,000 households across the Philippines, distributing more than 700,000 kilograms through Kadiwa centers.
The initiative has generated an estimated P20.42 million in sales for farmers and fisherfolk cooperatives participating in the program.
To sustain and expand these programs, the President approved a P5 billion budget allocation to support infrastructure improvements, including warehouse repairs and expanded distribution networks.
The National Food Authority (NFA) has also been instrumental in supporting these programs, procuring over 6.47 million bags of palay from January to October 2024, marking a 72.65% completion rate toward its annual target of nearly 9 million bags.
The agency’s procurement, boosted by the Price Range Scheme for Palay Procurement (PRICERs), is projected to help achieve the required buffer stocks by the year’s end.
The President also directed DA to expand Kadiwa locations from 21 to 300 by mid-2025, focusing on ensuring access to affordable rice in underserved communities.
Currently, 447 Kadiwa pop-up and mobile stores operate nationwide, offering RFA rice at P43 per kilogram, and selected sites offering P29 rice depending on stock availability.
The President called on local government units (LGUs) to participate by implementing palay-buying schemes that will secure rice inventories for expanded Kadiwa and rice programs.
