The government has expanded its P20-per-kilo rice initiative with Kadiwa ng Pangulo centers set to sell the cheap but “high quality” stocks nationwide starting Friday, May 2, the Department of Agriculture said on Monday.
The affordable rice initiative will be available exclusively at Kadiwa centers for indigents, senior citizens, solo parents, and persons with disabilities, with beneficiaries allowed to purchase up to 30 kilos of rice per month, said Agriculture secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel.
“The new rice option aligns with the ‘Bente Bigas Mo’ pilot program in the Visayas and in 10 local government units where NFA rice is sold at P33 per kilo due to the national food security emergency. These LGUs include San Juan City in Metro Manila, San Jose del Monte in Bulacan, Camarines Sur, and Mati City in Davao Oriental,” Tiu Laurel added.
Malacañang said the expansion of the cheap but quality rice program is part of efforts to beef up anti-poverty measures following survey results showing more Filipino families considered themselves poor.
“We understand that poverty incidence can be dynamic. In particular, self-rated poverty surveys are sensitive to inflation, particularly the price level of commodities commonly consumed, such as food and transportation,” Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said.
Castro said among the initiatives to alleviate poverty are the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Walang Gutom Program, the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), and school-based feeding programs.
“These efforts are being expanded to ensure that we address issues related to poverty and hunger,” Castro said
A recent Social Weather Stations survey showed 55 percent of Filipino families, equivalent to about 15.5 million households, rated themselves as poor in April.
This marked an increase from the 14.4 million self-rated poor families reported in March.
“Although poverty incidence can be dynamic, the administration is committed to lessening the burden experienced by the public,” the Palace official.
During the pilot phase of the nationwide rollout of the P20-per-kilo rice, participating LGUs that contribute to the subsidy may extend the rice option to all households in their communities, regardless of vulnerability status.
The DA has secured approval from the Commission on Elections to proceed with the sale of P20-per-kilo subsidized rice, which is expected to free up NFA warehouse space and facilitate increased rice procurement from local farmers during the summer harvest.
As of April 24, NFA administrator Larry Lacson reported that out of 10.1 million sacks of palay in storage, approximately 2.9 million were purchased this year, resulting in a 5-year high buffer stock equivalent to 7.56 million bags of rice — sufficient to meet national demand for 10 days.
“My directive to our teams on the ground is to purchase as much palay as possible, at P18 to P24 per kilo, to help boost farmers’ incomes,” Lacson said.
Tiu Laurel said the P20 rice initiative had been under consideration since June of last year, but was initially deemed impractical due to high global grain prices and low NFA stock levels.
“With world market prices now averaging just $300 per metric ton, down from a high of over $700, and with NFA buffer stocks at their strongest in years, we believe the conditions are now right to launch,” he said.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline “KADIWA centers to sell P20/kilo by May 2—DA.”