More Metro Manila residents will now be able to access cheaper rice as the Kadiwa ng Pangulo’s (KNP) Rice for All program is set to sell mixed local and imported well-milled rice at P40 per kilogram in five major public markets, as well as in MRT-North Avenue Station and LRT-Monumento Station.
This is P5 lower than the original price of P45/kg when the Rice for All program was launched in Kadiwa sites in August.
In a press conference on Wednesday, Department of Agriculture (DA) assistant secretary Arnel de Mesa said the P40/kg price was made possible following the tariff reduction on imported rice.
“That’s the intent na makita talaga ‘yung presyo na pwedeng ibaba ‘yung presyo. Lalo na ‘yung nasa range pa ng P50 to P55, that’s for now too much na presyo,” he said.
“Lalo na ‘yung sa pagbaba ng taripa, from 35 to 50%, at yung patuloy na pagbaba ng presyo sa international market, dapat nag-re-reflect na iyan.”
Starting Thursday, the KNP’s Rice for All kiosks will operate in Kamuning Market, Malabon Central Market, New Las Piñas City Public Market, Pasay City Public Market, and Guadalupe Market, as well as in the two train stations in partnership with the Department of Transportation (DOTr).
These will operate every Tuesday to Saturday, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
The seven sites are on top of the existing KNP centers in the metropolis.
De Mesa said the initial five major markets were selected considering the high prices of retail rice in their respective areas.
“Nakita natin dito na medyo matataas ang presyo. So merong more than P50, merong P45, halu-halo, pero relatively higher sa mga palengke na ito,” he said.
For Kadiwa kiosks in MRT and LRT stations, which attract heavy foot traffic, Agriculture assistant secretary Genevieve Velicaria-Guevarra said both commuters and the general public can readily access the cheaper rice.
“Meron pong espasyo na ibibigay po sa atin na hindi naman po makaka-disrupt. Alam naman po natin lalo na kapag rush hour, marami pong tao. Pero expected po natin sa hapon o sa gabi po magkakaroon ng malaking pagbili o volume dahil sa pag-uwi,” she said.
Sustainable rollout
Guevarra, meanwhile, said the Rice for All program, although prepacked in five- to 10-kg packs, offers the public no-limit purchase.
“Wala pong limit actually. Basta kung naubos po iyon, yung laman po nun, magre-replenish po tayo. Hindi po natin sasabihin na wala ng for the day no stocks. Magiging continuous po ang replenishment,” she said.
De Mesa also said the P40/kg may remain following the assurance of “sustainable” supply from the Food Terminal Incorporated (FTI).
“Iyong presyo o kuha rito ng FTI ay nasa P37 to P38. So, yung gastusin nila, syempre may gastos sila sa packaging, itong mga ganito, logistics distribution. Iyong P2 to P3 can cover iyong kanilang gastusin,” De Mesa said.
“Makita natin hindi malulugi ang FTI sa ganitong klaseng sistema. So, they can sustain.”
The DA official also cited the utilization of the recently approved P5 billion fund that can be used for KNP’s Rice for All procurement and logistics costs.
Besides the five major markets in Metro Manila, the DA is also eyeing to put up KNP kiosks in Balintawak (Cloverleaf) market and Maypajo public market in Quezon City, Cartimar market in Pasay, Grace market in Pateros, and Paco market in Manila this month.
The DA will also include other major cities in Visayas and Mindanao for the rollout of KNP Rice for All program kiosks for 2025. (PNA)
