Kadiwa selling P25/ kilo rice until Dec 31

AGRICULTURE Assistant Secretary Kristine Evangelista on Friday clarifiED THAT “KADIWA NG PASKO” ROLLING STORES WILL BE SELLING CHEAPLY PRICED RICE EVERY PAYDAY UNTIL DECEMBER 31.

In a radio interview, Evangelista said the next Kadiwa ng Pasko will roll out in 14 areas — 11 of which are in Metro Manila — on November 29 from where a kilo of rice will retail for P25.

“Our Kadiwa ng Pasko will be available every payday until Dec. 31, 2022. After the launching on November 16, we will have it on November 29. We will post all the locations,” she said.

On Wednesday, November 16, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. led the launching of Kadiwa ng Pasko in Mandaluyong City.

In his speech, Marcos said the Philippines is close to achieving the aspiration to bring down the price of rice to P20 per kilogram.

Marcos said the National Food Authority (NFA) is now selling rice at P25 per kilogram.

“We launched Kadiwa ng Pasko in different areas last November 16, including in Mandaluyong, Muntinlupa, Quezon City, Caloocan, Parañaque, Pasay, Las Piñas, Navotas and Taguig.

“We also have in Tacloban, Davao de Oro and South Cotabato. We will also expand it in other areas like in Pasig City,” she said.

In Quezon City, the Kadiwa ng Pasko outlet will be located at Quezon City Hall.

Evangelista added that they are now coordinating with the Office of the President and other local government units to accommodate the President’s Kadiwa ng Pasko project.

Aside from rice, other agricultural products as well as locally produced items will be made available.

“The products at the Kadiwa ng Pasko are cheaper as farmers’ cooperatives sell their products. The cost is very minimal. The DA (Department of Agriculture) shoulders the logistics, and it minimizes the intervention of the middlemen as the producers themselves sell their produce,” Evangelista said.

She said the products at the Kadiwa ng Pasko are lower by at least P40 per kilo compared to the retail prices in the wet markets.

She added that the DA hopes to extend the program beyond December 31.

“We are studying if it’s viable to operate the Kadiwa every day as you need to pay for the salaries of the employees and we also want to maintain the low prices of the products being sold at the Kadiwa,” Evangelista added.

According to Evangelista, the P25 per kilo of rice is available in the Kadiwa ng Pasko in partnership with cooperatives and through the NFA.

“Of course, our attached agency (NFA) is helping out. Consumers can really save a lot if they can buy directly from the producers,” she said.

Evangelista noted that Kadiwa ng Pasko in Muntinlupa City even sold pork at P250 per kilo as a cooperative joined the program.

She explained that the locations of the Kadiwa ng Pasko are far from the wet markets to prevent competition.

“As much as possible, the locations of the Kadiwa ng Pasko are far from the wet markets, but we see to it that these are accessible to the public,” she said.

Red onions will also be available at the Kadiwa ng Pasko outlets.

“We have farmers’ cooperative who still have stocks of onions and are available in the Kadiwa. The DA is continuously coordinating with other cooperatives and based on their commitment, onions will be available the second week of December as the harvest will start,” Evangelista added.

Based on the monitoring of the DA on Friday, the retail prices of red onions ranged between P250 and P280 per kilo despite the P170 suggested retail price issued by the agency.