By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
On Wednesday, Department of Agriculture (D.A.) Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. ordered the deployment of Kadiwa ng Pangulo kiosks to major public markets in the National Capital Region (NCR) to force the hand of rice retailers and unscrupulous traders who refuse to pass onto consumers the benefit of lower rice prices.
“The D.A., in partnership with the Food Terminal Inc., will deploy Kadiwa ng Pangulo kiosks in major public markets…These kiosks will offer Rice-for-All at an affordable price of P40 per kilo, available from Tuesdays to Saturdays, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.,” said Assistant Secretary Genevieve Guevarra, head of the Kadiwa program.
“Currently, we are coordinating with the following major markets in NCR for the rollout: Kamuning Market, Malabon Central Market, New Las Piñas City Public Market, Pasay City Public Market, Balintawak Market, Cartimar Market, Pateros Grace Marketplace, Maypajo Public Market, [and] Paco Market,” he added further.
Initially priced at P45 per kilo, grains sold under the Rice-for-All program have been reduced to P43 recently. The price will be reduced further starting Thursday to a more affordable rate of P40 a kilo as part of efforts to shield consumers from inflationary pressures.
“We plan to expand this program to other parts of the country where prices of rice remain high, a situation that borders on profiteering,” the agriculture chief concluded.
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