Consumers anticipate DA’s nationwide sale of P20/kg. rice

By Stephanie Sevillano, Philippine News Agency

Under the program, each family will be allowed a 10-kg. purchase limit per week or a total of 40 kg. per month in the region, which will soon be followed by a nationwide rollout. (PNA file photo by Joan Bondoc)

MANILA – Regular customers of the Kadiwa ng Pangulo (KNP) are hoping that the Department of Agriculture (DA) will soon launch a nationwide sale of cheaper rice worth PHP20 per kg.

This came after DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. announced the pilot sale of the PHP20/kg. rice in the Visayas following a closed-door meeting with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and 12 governors in the region on Wednesday.

Under the program, each family will be allowed a 10-kg. purchase limit per week or a total of 40 kg. per month in the region, which will soon be followed by a nationwide rollout.

Roque Fajardo, 63, a senior citizen and a regular buyer of rice in KNP at the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) in Quezon City, said they are looking forward to the fulfillment of Marcos’ promise in the entire country.

“Sana nga matupad na iyong pangako ng Pangulo dati pa. Susubukan namin syempre para makatipid at makamura (We hope that the President’s promise will come true. We will definitely try to save and access cheaper rice),” he said in a media interview on Thursday.

Dennis Mordeno, 60, another regular buyer who has been traveling from Payatas area on a weekly basis to purchase cheaper rice in KNP Centers, said the PHP20/kg. sale will be beneficial once launched in Metro Manila.

“Mas marami ang makikinabang. Malaki kasi ang matitipid mo kumpara doon sa commercial na nasa PHP45, tig-PHP50 (More will benefit from it. You can save so much compared to commercial amounting to around PHP45, PHP50 per kilo),” he said.

Good quality rice

Mordeno, meanwhile, lauded the quality of rice available in KNP Center, particularly under the P29 program or the sale of aging but good quality stocks of rice from the National Food Authority (NFA) to the vulnerable sector including members of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino program (4Ps), senior citizens, persons with disabilities (PWD), and solo parents.

“Masarap naman, tikman niyo rin para malaman niyo. Iyong sinasabi nilang pang-hayop? Hindi po pang-tao iyon (It tastes good, try it so you’ll know. Their remarks that it’s for animals? No, it’s for human consumption),” he said.

Zenaida Deliña, 71, who is used to buying commercial rice, also bought two sacks of PHP35/kg. well-milled rice under the DA’s Rice for All (RFA).

“Iyong PHP35 daw sabi ng anak ko, masarap naman kaya nagpapabili ako ng isang sako, bale dalawa (The PHP35, my child told me that it was good so I bought a sack, or two rather),” she said in a separate interview.

As of April 21, around 1,255.10 metric tons (MT) or over 1.2 million kg. of PHP29 rice have been sold in KNP Centers and kiosks nationwide, and 1,806.65 MT or over 1.8 million kg. of rice under the Rice for All (RFA) program, according to the DA.

RFA varieties include 5 percent broken rice or RFA5, 25 percent broken rice or RFA25, and 100 percent broken but white called Sulit rice or RFA100.