RICE FOR ALL. The Department of Agriculture (DA) launches the Rice for All program at the Kadiwa site at the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) in Malate, Manila on Thursday (August 1, 2024). Under the program, the general public may avail of the PHP45 per kilogram of mixed local and imported well-milled commercial rice. (PNA photo by Yancy Lim)
MANILA – The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Thursday assured food safety measures as it launched the Rice for All program, or the sale of cheaper rice for the general public, in four Kadiwa sites in Metro Manila.
Under the program, mixed local and imported commercial well-milled rice will be sold at PHP45 per kilogram at the DA’s initial sites in the Food Terminal Inc. in Taguig City; Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) in Manila; Pantao Fisherfolks Consumer Cooperative (PFCC) in Potrero, Malabon; and Llano Road in Caloocan.
Its rollout comes alongside the large-scale trial of the DA’s P29 program or the sale of the National Food Authority (NFA)’s aging but good quality rice at PHP29/kg to the vulnerable sector, including members of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), senior citizens, solo parents, and persons with disabilities (PWDs).
“Bukod doon sa ginagawang test ng NFA, ang BPI (Bureau of Plant Industry) ay nagsasagawa rin ng mga ganitong procedure para matiyak natin iyong food safety ng ibinebenta sa (Besides the tests of the NFA, the BPI also conducts these procedures to ensure the food safety of our products in) Kadiwa,” DA Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said in an ambush interview.
He said teams are being deployed in participating Kadiwa sites to eliminate risks of “pesticide residue, chemical contamination, and microbiological contaminants” on its rice supply.
For the Rice for All program, De Mesa said rice is sourced from cooperatives and associations (FCAs), private traders, and importers.
Its volume, however, varies depending on the demand and supply availability per site, he said.
For the Kadiwa site in BPI, Malate, Manila alone, at least 10 tons arrived for the first day of the Rice for All program.
To avoid abuse, the DA has set a 25-kg daily purchase limit per buyer for the Rice for all; and a 10-kg monthly purchase limit in 5-kilo increments for P29.
DA Assistant Secretary Genevieve Velicaria-Guevarra, meanwhile, mentioned the finalization of P29 booklets for a more organized operation.
“Iyong booklet po ay aming pinapa-approve. Ito ay nag-undergo pa ng revisions pero (The booklets are still subject to approval. It currently undergoes revisions but) definitely in the coming weeks, iro-rollout natin iyong ating (we will roll out our) booklets this August,” she said.
At present, P29 beneficiaries are required to present valid IDs and list their names on Kadiwa sites.
De Mesa said these are all part of the DA’s efforts to provide affordable and accessible rice and other agricultural commodities to Filipinos.
“Iyon ang konsepto ng Kadiwa na nababawasan iyong layers ng middlemen, traders, kaya iyong porsyento na iyon, iyong gap na iyon, nawawala. Definitely, mas lower iyong price dito sa Kadiwa (The concept of Kadiwa is to reduce the layers of middlemen, traders. That’s why that percentage, that gap, is eliminated. Definitely prices are lower here in Kadiwa),” he added citing other products like vegetables and fish.
During the post-State of the Nation Address (SONA) forum, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said they are planning to establish “permanent” Kadiwa sites in 1,500 municipalities nationwide.
Program expansion
De Mesa, meanwhile, assured further expansion and sustainability of both Rice for All and P29 programs in isolated areas, in line with the directives of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
“Iyong sa mga kabundukan (For those in the mountains), we are coordinating with the different local government units so that they will identify sino talaga iyong magandang mabenepisyuhan (who are best to benefit from these),” he said.
“And gusto natin sa buong administrasyon ay maisakatuparan itong dalawang programa na ito (What we in the whole administration want is to implement these two programs),” De Mesa added.
As of Thursday, the P29 program operations have also started rolling in Antipolo City and Santa Rosa Laguna.
Guevarra disclosed target areas for expansion including Cebu and Maguindanao, with schedules earlier eyed in August to September.
Other existing Kadiwa sites with the P29 program include the Bureau of Animal Industry Dome and National Irrigation Administration 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 or BFCT and Barangay Fortune in Marikina; as well as sites in Llano, Caloocan; Valenzuela; Pantao Fisherfolks Consumer Cooperative in Malabon; Navotas Institute in Navotas; San Jose del Monte, Bulacan; Bacoor, Cavite; and San Pedro City Hall in Laguna, operating every Thursday to Saturday. (PNA)
