Key Takeaways

• Maximum rice purchase limit at Kadiwa stores increased to 30 kilos per household.
• Expanded availability of P29/kilo rice for poor and vulnerable families.
• Program targets beneficiaries of 4Ps, solo parents, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and indigenous people.
• P33/kilo rice now available in resettlement sites for public housing beneficiaries.
• More Kadiwa stores to open in various locations through May 2025.

The Push for Affordable Rice

The government is taking steps to ensure food security for its most vulnerable citizens. An agriculture official confirmed that the maximum amount of rice a household can purchase from Kadiwa stores has been raised to 30 kilos.

Details of the Initiative

National Food Authority (NFA) Administrator Larry Lacson stated in a recent briefing that Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. ordered an increase in the availability of rice priced at P29 per kilo. This initiative aims to allow poor and vulnerable households to purchase up to 30 kilos of rice per month, a significant increase from the previous limit of 10 kilos.

The DA has also broadened the reach of its P29 per kilo rice program by increasing the number of Kadiwa stores nationwide. This expansion builds upon a large-scale trial launched last year, which targeted 6.9 million vulnerable households, representing approximately 35 million Filipinos.

Initially,10 Kadiwa stores in Metro Manila and Bulacan participated in the trial program. These stores are now expanding to include other Kadiwa outlets.

Target Beneficiaries

the P29 per kilo rice is sourced from older NFA stocks and is specifically intended for vulnerable households. The DA has identified these households as beneficiaries of the government’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), solo parents, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and indigenous people.

The 4Ps program, administered by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), is described as:

A human development measure of the national government that provides conditional cash grants to the poorest of the poor, to improve the health, nutrition, and the education of children aged 0-18.
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)

Expanding the Reach: Resettlement Sites

In addition to the P29 rice program, the government has also begun selling rice at P33 per kilo in Kadiwa stores located in resettlement sites for public housing beneficiaries. this initiative is part of a broader government effort to ensure food security for all citizens.

General Manager Joeben Tai stated that the government has been establishing Kadiwa stores in housing sites of the NHA since April, offering rice at P33 per kilo. He added:

More kadiwa stores will open in diffrent areas from this month to May 2025.
joeben Tai, General Manager

Looking Ahead

the expansion of the Kadiwa store program and the increased availability of affordable rice options represent a significant step towards addressing food security concerns for vulnerable populations. The government’s continued efforts to monitor and adjust these programs will be crucial in ensuring their long-term success.