₱45/kg rice beginning August — DA

Metro Manila, Philippines — Consumers would be able to avail of cheap rice in select government-run outlets in Metro Manila beginning August.

Under the “Rice-for-All Program,” the Department of Agriculture (DA) said select Kadiwa outlets will sell the staple for ₱45 per kilogram (kg) at a limit of 25 kg per customer daily.

“It will be adjusted depending [on] the movement of rice prices but it will definitely be lower than retail prices in general,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel said.

The outlets are at the Food Terminal, Inc. in Taguig City, the Bureau of Plant Industry in Manila, Potrero in Malabon, and in Caloocan.

The DA said the well-milled rice will come from importers and local traders.

It follows the rice program that sells ₱29/kg of aging stocks of the National Food Authority meant for poor households and other vulnerable sectors. The DA had set a lower buying limit at 10 kg per month.

The subsidized prices are still far from the ₱20/kg rice campaign promise of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

As of July 30, selected Metro Manila markets sell imported commercial rice at ₱47 to ₱65, while local commercial rice is at ₱45 to ₱61, the DA reported.

The ₱29/kg rice is available in 17 Kadiwa stores across Metro Manila, as well as in San Jose del Monte City in Bulacan, Bacoor City in Cavite, San Pedro City Hall in Laguna, Sta. Rosa City Hall in Laguna, and in Antipolo City, Rizal.

Laurel said he is eyeing to make Kadiwa stores as permanent outlets instead of the current pop-up stores. The DA said it targets to have 1,500 Kadiwa sites nationwide.