CHEAP RICE. The Department of Agriculture sells aging but good quality rice at PHP29 per kilo to members of vulnerable sectors at the Bureau of Animal and Industry Kadiwa store in Quezon City on Friday (July 19, 2024). The DA said it is expanding the P29 program to two more Kadiwa sites in Bacoor, Cavite and San Pedro, Laguna. (PNA photo by Ben Briones)
MANILA – The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Friday expanded the P29 Rice Program to two new Kadiwa sites in Southern Luzon.
The P29 program offers aging but good quality rice at PHP29 a kilo to the vulnerable sectors, including members of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, senior citizens, solo parents and persons with disabilities.
“Ngayong araw, nagsimula na tayo sa Bacoor at San Pedro, sa Laguna at sa Cavite. So, dire-diretso ito at sa buwan ng Agosto, magsisimula na tayo sa Visayas at Mindanao (Today, we started in Bacoor and San Pedro, in Laguna and Cavite, respectively. So, it will be continuous and in August, we will start in the Visayas and Mindanao),” Agriculture Assistant Secretary Arnel De Mesa said in an interview.
The program’s large-scale trial was initially launched in 10 sites in Metro Manila and Bulacan on July 5.
The first batch are the Bureau of Animal Industry Dome and National Irrigation Administration (NIA) in Quezon City; Bureau of Plant Industry in Malate, Manila; Food Terminal Inc. in Taguig City; Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority in Las Piñas; Bayani Fernando Central Terminal and Barangay Fortune in Marikina; sites in Caloocan and Valenzuela; and City of San Jose del Monte, Bulacan.
These were followed by three more Kadiwa sites in Malabon, Navotas and Marikina.
The DA aims to conduct its large-scale trial all year to assess the needs and challenges of a nationwide implementation.
“We want to get iyong (the) critical information and challenges of course on demand, supply, logistics, and administrative concern,” De Mesa said.
He said the DA will also study the possible lowering of the PHP29 selling price, considering the expected decrease in global market prices.
Overall, the P29 program aims to benefit 6.9 million households nationwide with supplies coming from the stocks of the National Food Authority and harvest from contract growing programs of the NIA. (PNA)
