DA MULLS SELLING P40 PER KILO RICE NATIONWIDE

MORE Kadiwa ng Pangulo trade centers are expected to be established by the government to give Filipinos further access to the P40 per kilo rice, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA).

“Ang plano po ay palawigin pa at ilagay ang mga Kadiwa ng Pangulo kiosk sa lahat po ng major na palengke nationwide,” Agriculture Assistant Secretary Genevieve Guevarra said in a news forum in Quezon City on Saturday.

Kadiwa ng Pangulo kiosks are selling P40 per kilo of rice called “Rice for All.”

“Kami ngayon ay nakikipag-ugnayan sa aming mga regional counterparts. Ina-identify na po natin iyong ating mga sites na puwede doon (sa Kadiwa ng Pangulo trade centers),” Guevarra said.

“At the same time, nakipag-usap tayo sa mga retailer association at sa mga importers. They’re very much willing to (help),” the official added.

The government on Thursday started selling P40 per kilo rice at the Kadiwa ng Pangulo kiosks in different public markets in Malabon, Guadalupe, Las Piñas, Kamuning and Pasay City, she reported.

The sale of P40 a kilo of rice will continue, Guevarra assured. The rice will be available in Kadiwa markets Tuesday to Saturday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., she said.

“Initial feedback po natin ay marami ang namimili.  Sabi po nila maganda po iyong klase noong ating bigas. Although sabi regular mill, mukhang mas mura siyang well-milled 25 percent broken. Sa unang araw pa nga lang, wala pang isang oras ay naubos po iyong 30 bags natin na tag-25 kilos,” Guevarra said.

Guevarra said the DA is hoping to open five more kiosks in other public markets next week.

Similar arrangements will be done in LRT and MRT stations in coordination with the Department of Transportation, Guevarra said. Initial sites will be in Monumento and LRT North EDSA, she added.