Marcos to DA, DBM: Bring cheap rice, Kadiwa centers closer to the people

(INQUIRER FILE PHOTO)

MANILA, Philippines — To bring affordable rice closer to the public, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. ordered expanding the P29 Rice-for-All program and establishing additional Kadiwa centers nationwide.

Marcos issued the order in a meeting with officials from the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the National Irrigation Administration at Malacañang on Tuesday.

“The DA and DBM [Department of Budget and Management] have been directed to expand the P29 Rice-for-All program and increase our Kadiwa ng Pangulo centers from 21 to 300 by mid-2025. This will bring affordable rice within reach for more communities across the country,” Marcos said in a Facebook post.

Kadiwa is a market linkage facilitation program that brings agricultural products and other basic commodities accessible and affordable to vulnerable sectors.

The expanded Kadiwa sites will sell Rice-For-All at P43 per kilogram or less, with selected stores offering P29 rice based on stock availability.

In the same post, the President also urged local government units to purchase palay (unhusked rice) from local farmers to boost their profit and ensure the country’s sufficient supply of rice.