The Department of Agriculture (DA) expanded the P20-per-kilo rice program to more KADIWA ng Pangulo centers on Thursday, fulfilling President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s promise to make affordable food accessible to a larger number of Filipinos.
After launching the subsidized rice program in 12 KADIWA centers on Tuesday, the day after the May 12 midterm elections, 20 additional centers across Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Mindoro, and Rizal began selling P20-a-kilo rice on Thursday.
Currently, beneficiaries of the P20 rice program are allowed to purchase up to 30 kilos of rice per month.
The rice sold at KADIWA centers comes from the National Food Authority (NFA), which procures palay from local rice producers at prices higher than those offered by private traders, ensuring better returns for farmers.
Most KADIWA centers are open from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday to Saturday. In addition to rice, they also offer fresh vegetables and other agricultural products. ### (Photos by Jay Morales, DA-OSEC)
