QUEZON CITY - The Department of Agriculture (DA) plans to establish at least 40 additional 'Kadiwa' stores across the Philippines in the next two months to sell rice at a subsidized rate of PHP29 per kilogram. This initiative is part of the government's effort to make staple foods more accessible to vulnerable communities.
According to Philippines News Agency, the expansion will include new sites in Malabon, Navotas, and Mandaluyong in Metro Manila, as well as in Cebu province and various locations in Mindanao. "In Luzon alone, we are adding 10 to 20 sites between August and September," Guevarra announced at the Saturday News Forum. The selection of locations for these Kadiwa stores depends on several factors, including the availability of large parking areas for stores that require substantial storage space.
The P29 Rice Program is designed to assist members of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, senior citizens, solo parents, and persons with disabilities by offering rice at a significantly reduced price. The program was initially trialed in 10 Kadiwa stores, including locations in Quezon City, Manila, Taguig City, Las Piñas, Marikina, Caloocan, Valenzuela, and San Jose del Monte, Bulacan. These stores not only sell rice but also other agricultural produce directly from farmers and producers at lower prices.
Beneficiaries are allowed to purchase the subsidized rice on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, with a limit of 10 kilograms per household per month in five-kilogram increments. Each trial site supports approximately 1,500 families weekly, equating to around 60,000 households across all sites each month. "The San Jose del Monte site in Bulacan was particularly successful, selling out 100 50-kilogram sacks," noted Guevarra.
The initial results from the trial sites have been promising, with over 25,000 kilograms of rice sold, generating about PHP750,000 in revenue. The DA aims to sell 100 sacks per day and has confirmed the program's sustainability, backed by a stock of 25,000 metric tons of rice, which should last for the next three to four months.
The rice for the program is sourced from Batangas and Quezon provinces in Luzon, and from areas in the Visayas and Mindanao. The overall goal of the P29 program is to reach 30 percent of the population, benefiting approximately 6.9 million households nationwide.