DA: Rice for All expected in supermarkets by mid-March

RICE FOR ALL IN SUPERMARKETS. Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. answers questions from the media during a market monitoring at the Commonwealth Market in Quezon City on Wednesday (Feb. 12, 2025). He said the Kadiwa ng Pangulo’s Rice for All options will soon be available in more supermarkets in the country. (PNA photo by Ben Briones)

By Stephanie Sevillano, Philippine News Agency

MANILA – The Rice for All (RFA) options sold in Kadiwa ng Pangulo (KNP) Centers and kiosks, will soon be available in more supermarkets in the country, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said Wednesday.

“Maraming nag-signify ng intent. Actually, tuloy-tuloy na usapan with FTI (Food Terminal Incorporated). Almost all gustong sumama (Many have signified their intent. Actually, talks with the FTI are ongoing. Almost all [supermarkets] want to join),” DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said in a media interview.

The DA secured a partnership with the first major grocery chain MerryMart Groceries Centers Inc. last Jan. 31 for the expanded rollout of RFA in supermarkets nationwide.

Besides Merry Mart Groceries, Tiu Laurel said other chains like 7-Eleven, SM, and Robinsons have shown interest in the sale of RFA.

In terms of implementation, the official said they are eyeing a wider rollout of RFA next month.

“Hopefully by (the) earliest first week of March, latest, mid-March,” Tiu Laurel said.

He also underscored the need to ensure an organized system for RFA logistics and sales.

“Medyo maraming moving parts kasi ang laki ng universe nila… So, iyong logistics, tinitingnan mabuti. And iyong (They have quite many moving parts, their scope is huge… So, we are carefully assessing the logistics. And the) credit aspect, we have to work within their systems also,” Tiu Laurel said.

He added that some major chains have at least 15,000 or 17,000 stores nationwide.

As of Wednesday, prices of RFA options have been dropped by PHP2 to PHP3/kg. particularly the RFA5 or 5 percent broken rice set at PHP43/kg., RFA25 or 25 percent broken at PHP35/kg., and RFA100 or Sulit rice, which is 100 percent broken but white, at PHP33/kg.

To date, RFA options are available in KNP Centers and kiosks in select public markets, LRT, and MRT stations in Metro Manila.

Pork retail price

In March, the DA is also expecting to decide whether to set the maximum suggested retail price (MSRP) for pork amid retail price increases.

“The earliest na siguro is March pero depende iyan kung kumportable na kami sa aming data or information. Ayaw ko magkamali at may tamaan ng sektor (The earliest maybe is March but that still depends, if we’re comfortable enough with our data or information. I don’t want to fail and affect our sector),” Tiu Laurel said.

He said the discussion on the initial findings of the study of spiking pork prices is set within the day.

It will include an assessment of pork prices across the entire value chain from farm gate price, which only ranges between PHP240 and PHP250/kg.

“Today, actually iyong report para ipakita sa akin iyong kanilang findings (they will show me the findings in a report). But I have initial reports na nagsasabi na nasa retail side iyong problema (claiming that the problem is in the retail side),” Tiu Laurel said.

However, he said some pork vendors blamed other parts of the value chain.

“We really have to be careful and kailangan suriin nang mabuti para kung ano man na maging desisyon natin at ng gobyerno tungkol dito ay fair para sa lahat ng sektor ng (and we need to study carefully so that whatever may be our decision and the government about it will be fair for all the sector in the) pork industry,” Tiu Laurel said.

Earlier, the agriculture chief said pork prices above PHP400/kg.-level are already considered unreasonable considering the low farmgate prices.

As of Monday, the DA Bantay Presyo said prices of pork kasim (ham) in Metro Manila range from PHP350/kg. to PHP420/kg.; while PHP380/kg. to PHP480/kg. for pork liempo (belly).