“Program 29 and Rice-for-All are timely and appropriate interventions by the national government to make affordable rice available to our people all-year round”
One of the campaign promises of then presidential candidate Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. was, if elected, he would work towards bringing the price of rice, the staple food of Filipinos, to P20 per kilo.
After two years of his administration, many Filipinos, particularly those living in poverty, are still waiting for that campaign promise to become reality.
There’s hope on the horizon, however. No, not P20/kilo rice. But the next best thing, as of now, is P29/kilo rice in selected stores.
Last July 5, the Department of Agriculture headed by Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. launched a large-scale trial of “Program 29’ aimed at providing high-quality rice at P29 per kilo to as many as 6.9 million vulnerable households, representing around 35 million Filipinos.
Ten KADIWA centers in Metro Manila and Bulacan are participating in the trial program, where rice will be sold at P29 per kilo every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday initially.
Rice priced at P29 per kilo had earlier been made available in three KADIWA centers.
The large-scale trial aims to gather comprehensive data on supply, demand, and logistics, essential for the smooth nationwide rollout of the program.
During this period, KADIWA will also prepare booklets to monitor rice purchases of P29 beneficiaries, which include senior citizens, single parents, persons with disabilities and beneficiaries of the government’s 4Ps program.
The identified KADIWA sites are in the offices of the Bureau of Animal Industry and National Irrigation Administration in Quezon City; Bureau of Plant Industry in Manila; Food Terminal Inc. in Taguig City; PhilFIDA in Las Piñas; Caloocan City; Valenzuela City; Brgy. Fortune and BF City in Marikina City; and San Jose del Monte City in Bulacan.
Secretary Laurel has emphasized the importance of preventing abuse of the program by beneficiaries reselling subsidized rice.
He has appealed to beneficiaries not to take advantage of this program by reselling the P29 rice from KADIWA centers as the DA wants to ensure the largest number of those in the vulnerable sectors will benefit from the program.
Genevieve Velicaria-Guevarra, Assistant Secretary for Consumer and Legislative Affairs of the Agriculture Department, urged consumers qualified to participate in the P29 rice program to bring identification cards and reusable containers or bags to minimize plastic usage.
ASec. Guevarra, who also oversees the KADIWA program, said in addition to lower-priced rice at designated centers, consumers can also buy more affordable essential items such as eggs, meat, and vegetables.
Nationwide, there are 265 established KADIWA centers along with 119 pop-up stores operating on scheduled rotations to cater to consumer needs.
The DA estimates full implementation of the P29 program will require approximately 69,000 metric tons of rice.
This will provide 10 kilos of rice per month at P29 per kilo to the targeted 6.9 million vulnerable households.
Rice supplies will come from various sources, including the National Food Authority, the National Irrigation Administration’s rice contract growing project, and potential imports managed by DA-affiliated entities.
The DA plans to expand the program to major urban centers nationwide with the support of local government units.
By August, the number of participating KADIWA centers is expected to double, enhancing accessibility for economically disadvantaged groups in Metro Manila.
Apart from Program 29, there’s also the Agriculture Department’s “Rice-for-All” program that will sell rice at prices lower than current market rates.
According to Guevarra, the government’s “Rice-for-All” program will be launched in the following weeks to make rice prices affordable by ordinary Filipinos.
Rice prices under the program will range from P45 to P48 per kilo. The DA plans to roll out the “Rice-for-All” program in KADIWA centers first before expanding it to other areas.
“This is for everyone, not necessarily the vulnerable sectors. So, anyone can buy and there is no limit. Although we are saying they can purchase one sack if there are 25-kilo sacks available,” Guevarra pointed out.
Per the DA’s price monitoring, local well-milled rice had an average price of P51.5, regular milled stood at P49.03 and special rice at P49.03 in the last week of June.
This price range is significantly higher than the prices offered in the agency’s rice programs.
Program 29 and Rice-for-All are timely and appropriate interventions by the national government to make affordable rice available to our people all-year round.
P20/per kilo rice may not be a pipe dream after all. (Email: ernhil@yahoo.com)
