Rice at P29 per kilo is now available in few Kadiwa outlets in Metro Manila while the Department of Agriculture (DA) is targeting for its nationwide rollout by July 2024 to make cheaper rice available for Filipinos especially for low-income individuals.
DA Spokesperson and Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said that they are currently in testing stage considering that they will start its nationwide roll out in two months.
The DA officials said that they need to provide heavy subsidies in order to sell rice at P29 per kilo.
“The testing that we are conducting is important to make sure all the bottlenecks and challenges will be addressed,” De Mesa said in an interview with national TV.
Rice retail prices in Manila currently range from P50 to P53 per kilo, while in the provinces, including Puerto Princesa City, the price is even higher at P55 to more than P60 per kilo.
In Narra, Palawan, considered as the island-province’s rice granary being its major producer, its farmers’ cooperatives hold Kadiwa to sell lower priced agricultural commodities and other products, including rice which is only P20. It started in January 18, 2024, and since then they targeted to hold this monthly.
The holding of Kadiwa in Narra 16 irrigators associations in Narra town under Batang-Batang River Irrigation System (RIS).
Raymundo Imaysay, president of Ugnayang Magsasaka ng Urcatugma, a rice farmer and businessman based in Princess Urduja, Narra, Palawan said they will sustain the holding of Kadiwa so that low-income individuals and families will have access to rice at lower price, as well as other basic goods and commodities.
He said that spearheading this Kadiwa was their way of expressing gratitude to the government who provided interventions to small rice farmers.
Ritchel Caabay, 38 year old and a mother of four children, who used to buy rice at a talipapa in Barangay Sta. Monica said that she observed no changes yet in terms of prices of rice in Puerto Princesa since the DA’s pilot testing is still in Metro Manila.
“Wala pa namang pagbabago. Ganun pa rin ang kilo bigas. Mataas pa rin, may pinakamura, nasa 56. Pero tag-P60 binibili ko kasi parang may halo yung tag P56, may ibang amoy,” she said.
50-year old Mary Jane Espinosa-Olatan also from Barangay Sta. Monica said that she preferred buying P60 to P62/kilo of rice compared to below P60/kilo but of poor quality.
She said that government agencies should also look into those unscrupulous rice retailers who are not religious in doing business. In result, consumers dismayed because many times they bought rice that are old stock or of poor quality. Olatan said that he is hopeful that the P29/kilo rice from the DA will reach Palawan soon.