Rice supply at KADIWA centers will be available only to indigents, senior citizens, solo parents, and persons with disabilities. Qualified beneficiaries will be allowed to purchase up to 30 kilos of rice per month.
This declaration enables the NFA to release its buffer stocks — legally restricted from direct public sale — to government agencies, local government units, and the KADIWA ng Pangulo program. These actions aim to stabilize prices and ensure food security for Filipino households.
The DA chief said that the President’s restoration of P10 billion in budget cuts for the rice program will allow the agency to implement strategies aim at hitting an original target of 20.46 million metric tons of palay for this year.
The price, initially set at P45 per kilo, was recently reduced to P43 and will drop further to P40 starting Thursday to shield consumers from inflationary pressures.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., who also chairs the NFA Council, announced that the lower band of the buying price will be set at P23 per kilo, down from the previous floor price of P25.
The initial impact of the tariff cut has been delayed as traders imported large volumes of rice earlier this year, anticipating shortages due to the El Niño dry spell.
A significant drop in rice prices was observed during a market inspection led by Agriculture Assistant Secretary for Consumer Affairs Genevieve Velicaria-Guevarra on Sept. 11, 2024, the department said Thursday.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) will launch "Program 29" on July 5, an initiative led by President Marcos, to provide high-quality rice at P29 per kilo to 6.9 million vulnerable households encompassing approximately 35 million Filipinos.
The Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc., led by its president Cecilio Pedro, said on Friday that it supports Finance Secretary Ralph Recto's proposal to reduce rice tariffs below the current 35 percent until the end of the year.