December 28, 2024 | 12:00am

Kadiwa Program: Affordable Rice to Expand Across Public Markets

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine government is set to make affordable rice more accessible as it ramps up the Kadiwa ng Pangulo Rice-for-All program. The initiative, which began on December 27, aims to provide more affordable rice options in public markets in time for the New Year celebrations.

Kadiwa ng Pangulo Resumes, Expanding Nationwide

The Presidential Communications Office announced that the Kadiwa ng Pangulo program resumed on December 27, operating at additional public markets across the country. The program offers rice at just PHP40 per kilo, making it significantly cheaper than the current retail prices ranging from PHP48 to PHP55 per kilo.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. elaborated that the program will be opening at least 1,300 more Kadiwa stores and 1,500 Kadiwa kiosks within markets by the end of next year. This expansion is part of the government’s broader strategy to stabilize rice prices and ensure food security for Filipino households.

Public Markets See Lower Rice Prices

The implementation of the Kadiwa program has already begun to influence market prices. Rice retailers in several areas are reducing their prices to remain competitive with the lower-priced Kadiwa stores. This trend is evident in markets such as EDSA Balintawak Market, New Marulas Public Market in Valenzuela City, and Malabon Central Market.

Specifically, EDSA Balintawak Market has distributed 110 sacks of rice, while New Marulas Public Market distributed five sacks, and Malabon Central Market distributed 32 sacks. These initial distributions highlight the program’s potential impact on ensuring affordable rice access.

Government Funding and Future Expansion

The Office of the President has approved an allocation of PHP5 billion for the Rice-for-All and P29 per kilo of rice programs. This funding is crucial for the expansion and continued operation of Kadiwa stores and kiosks across the country.

President Ferdinand Marcos has directed the government to expand the Kadiwa outlets nationwide. This expansion is part of a broader strategy to combat price increases and ensure that more Filipinos have access to affordable rice. The government’s commitment to this initiative reflects a strong dedication to addressing food security concerns.

Contract Farming: A Potential Solution

While the Kadiwa program provides immediate relief, there are ongoing efforts to tackle the root causes of high rice prices. Marikina 2nd District Rep. Stella Quimbo has called for a more detailed study of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA)’s contract farming program. This program aims to achieve the government’s target price of PHP20 per kilo of rice in local markets.

During a House quinta committee hearing, NIA Administrator Eduardo Guillen explained how the agency collaborates with irrigation associations by providing funds equivalent to 50 percent of the target yield for farm inputs. The remaining amount is paid at harvest time. Under this program, farmers can sell any surplus yield above the contracted target at higher prices.

Currently, the P29 per kilo target reflects only 25 percent of the total yield under the contract farming program. The remaining 75 percent is sold at higher prices. If the NIA continues to refine the contract farming program, it could potentially lower rice prices to the target of PHP20 per kilo, significantly impacting the overall market.

Conclusion

The Kadiwa ng Pangulo Rice-for-All program is a positive step towards making affordable rice more accessible to Filipinos. By expanding Kadiwa outlets and encouraging initiatives like contract farming, the government aims to stabilize rice prices and ensure food security for its citizens.

These efforts, combined with public cooperation and awareness, can help bring sustainable solutions to the challenges of high rice prices. The journey towards achieving the government’s target of PHP20 per kilo of rice is ongoing, but the progress made so far is promising.

We encourage readers to stay informed about this important initiative and to provide comments below if you have any thoughts or experiences related to the availability and affordability of rice in your area.

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