DA mulls selling Kadiwa rice in supermarkets, convenience stores

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is considering the rice sold in Kadiwa stores to be also made available in supermarkets and convenience stores.

According to Bernadette Reyes’ report in 24 Oras on Wednesday, the DA has already met with the various heads of major supermarket chains and convenience stores regarding the plan to make affordable rice available in larger establishments.

“Pumayag sila na yung ating mga Kadiwa rice na ma-ibenta rin same price, maging available siya, posibleng, of course, yung pagpe-presyo din ay maging kaparehas din,” said DA spokesperson Arnel de Mesa.

(They have agreed to make the Kadiwa rice to be available in their stores for possibly the same price.)

At present, aside from its stores, Kadiwa has stalls located in several MRT-3 and LRT-2 stations.

Once the plan rolls out, consumers can buy P29/kilo of rice that is currently being sold to select sectors, P36/kilo of “Sulit Rice” which is purely broken rice grains, and the P38/kilo of the “Rice-for-All” which is mixed with broken rice.

“Yung ating ‘Rice-for-All’ ay P38, yung rice, halimbawa, ng imported, of the same quality, nasa P45, so a difference of P7,” De Mesa noted.

(The ‘Rice-for-All’ is P38, while the imported rice of the same quality is being sold at P45. So there is seven peso difference.)

Despite the cuts in the per kilo price of rice lately, the DA said that the National Food Authority should still be able to release its buffer stock to be able to procure palay during reaping season.

Further, the DA is still awaiting the resolution of the National Price Coordinating Council (NPCC) that urges the department to declare a food security emergency for rice.

“DA will review it as part of due diligence in two days…Though downward trend siya, pero kagaya ng pag-ikot namin, may nakikita pa rin kaming matataas ang presyo,” said De Mesa.

(The DA will review it as part of due diligence in two days…Though downward trend siya, we have monitored some retailers selling rice at higher prices.)

The NPCC earlier said the food emergency declaration would allow the NFA to release the buffer stock of rice to stabilize prices.

The stocks that will be released will then be replaced with locally produced rice to support Filipino farmers. —Vince Angelo Ferreras/RF, GMA Integrated News