THE Department of Agriculture (DA) said it will distribute subsidized P40 rice to more Metro Manila markets starting Thursday, Dec. 5.
“There will be rice kiosks in selected markets in the (National Capital Region) including two train stations,” Assistant Secretary for Consumer and Legislative Affairs Genevieve E. Velicaria-Guevarra said at a briefing on Wednesday.
She added that the initial markets include Kamuning Market, Malabon Central Market, New Las Piñas City Public Market, Pasay City Public Market, and Guadalupe Public Market.
Kiosks will also be set up in the North Avenue and Monumento stations of the Metro Rail Transit and Light Rail Transit lines.
“These kiosks will offer Rice-for-All at an affordable price of P40 per kilo, available from Tuesdays to Saturdays, 8 to 5 p.m.,” Ms. Velicaria-Guevarra said.
She said that the kiosks will be affiliated with the KADIWA ng Pangulo program and supplied by the Food Terminal, Inc.
She said that the DA is also looking to put up rice kiosks at Balintawak Market, Cartimar Market, Pateros Grace Marketplace, Maypajo Public Market, and Paco Market.
“Rice for All” was first launched to sell cheap well-milled rice at KADIWA centers.
The government currently sells P29 rice to low-income individuals.
The DA is looking to expand its KADIWA network to 1,500 locations by 2028, it is expecting to open 179 KADIWA Centers by the end of the year.
Ms. Velicaria-Guevarra said that KADIWA centers will also sell well-milled rice at P40 per kilo starting Dec. 5.
According to DA price monitors, a kilogram of well-milled rice in Metro Manila markets sold for between P42 and P52 as of Dec. 3. — Adrian H. Halili