Affordable Rice Draws Crowds to Kadiwa Centers

Consumers flocked to the Kadiwa Center at the Bureau of Plant Industry in San Andres, Manila, to purchase rice priced at P45 per kilo.

According to Marisol Abdurahman’s report on “24 Oras,” the discounted rice is available to all consumers, unlike the P29-per-kilo rice reserved for the poor. Each customer can buy up to 25 kilos of rice.

“The Department of Agriculture (DA) monitored rice prices between P45 and P55. By reducing the layers of middlemen and traders, we have minimized costs. Therefore, prices at Kadiwa are definitely lower,” said DA Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa.

Additionally, DA and BPI assure that the rice is well-milled and clean, despite the low price. “It is clean, with no dirt. As an additional guarantee for our customers, we test it for food safety against microbiological contaminants and pesticide residues,” said BPI Director Glenn Pangabiban.

Many customers also queued for the P29-per-kilo rice. “It’s a big deal because we really can’t afford the P54 to P55 cheapest rice,” said customer Myrna Batucan.

The low price is part of the DA’s Rice-for-All program, which aims to help Filipinos cope with high food prices. The program is available at Kadiwa Centers in FTI in Taguig City, the Bureau of Plant Industry in Manila, Potrero in Malabon, and Caloocan.