MANILA, Philippines — Navotas City Rep. Tobias Tiangco has lauded the efforts of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration in lowering rice prices, noting that residents in his city were able to buy cheaper rice under Program 29.
Tiangco in a statement on Tuesday said that 1,500 Navotas residents were able to purchase rice at P29 per kilogram under the Department of Agriculture (DA) Program 29 where rice would be made available in Kadiwa stores every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
“We are grateful to President Bongbong for his efforts to ensure Navoteños can have access to low-cost rice through the Kadiwa ng Pangulo program. The local government of Navotas hopes to continuously work with the national government in delivering basic services that are truly relevant to the needs of our constituents,” Tiangco said.
Tiangco also said that the expansion of Program 29 will also bode well for the country’s marginalized sector.
“The sustained efforts of this administration to lower the price of basic commodities, including Filipino staples like rice, shows its steadfast commitment to fulfill its promises,” he said.
“With this program, Filipinos from vulnerable households and sectors are given some economic relief as they gain access to low-cost goods for their families,” he added.
Under Program 29, rice would only be sold to “vulnerable” segments of society, which includes senior citizens, single parents, persons with disabilities, and beneficiaries of the government’s conditional cash transfer program or the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).
READ: Gov’t rolls out ‘P29 per kilo’ rice program for low-income folk
Initially, the DA said Program 29 would only be available in select Kadiwa stores over Metro Manila and Bulacan, but Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said that there will be 23 stores in total, including three provincial areas, with one in Cebu and one in Maguindanao.
READ: DA expands ‘Program 29’ beyond original targets
Tiangco also reiterated his support for the House leadership’s goal of rice sufficiency by 2028, noting that a renewed focus on agriculture will ensure strong support for farmers and fisherfolk.
“I am one with the House leadership in pushing for efforts that will modernize and develop the country’s agricultural sector. Not only will it improve the lives of farmers and fisherfolks, it will also significantly contribute to food security of Filipinos,” Tiangco said.