The Department of Agriculture (DA) announced that Kadiwa ng Pangulo (KNP) centers will begin selling “high quality” rice at PHP20 per kilogram (kg) starting May 2. This follows the scheduled pilot launch of the P20 per kg rice sale in Cebu on May 1, marking the first area in the Visayas to participate in the program.
DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. explained that the government-subsidized rice will be available to the most vulnerable sectors, including beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), senior citizens, persons with disabilities (PWDs), and solo parents.
“The new rice option is part of the ‘Bente Bigas Mo’ pilot program, which is already underway in the Visayas and in 10 local government units (LGUs) that have joined the initiative, where NFA rice is sold at PHP33 per kilo due to the national food security emergency,” Tiu Laurel said in a statement.
Participating LGUs in the NFA rice sale under the food security emergency include San Juan City and Navotas in Metro Manila, San Jose del Monte in Bulacan, Isabela, Camarines Sur, and Mati City in Davao Oriental.
Regarding the quality of the rice, Tiu Laurel noted that the P20 per kg rice will be made up of 25 percent broken rice sourced from local farmers. This will consist of a mix of both new and aging stocks from the National Food Authority (NFA). The aging rice, which is at least three months old, is currently being sold to vulnerable sectors under the DA’s P29 per kg program.
Beneficiaries will be allowed to purchase up to 30 kg of rice per month at KNP sites.
Tiu Laurel emphasized that the long-awaited P20 per kg rice sale is designed to support both consumers and local farmers. “My directive to our teams on the ground is to purchase as much palay as possible, at PHP18 to PHP24 per kilo, to help boost farmers’ incomes,” he said.
As of April 24, the NFA reported that it has accumulated 7.56 million bags of milled rice for its national buffer stock, with ongoing palay procurement during the peak harvest season. This stock, which is the highest procurement in five years, will last for 10 days.
