Eastern visayas: The directive to establish more Kadiwa stores will make cheaper rice available to the vulnerable sectors in Eastern Visayas, the National Food Authority’s (NFA) regional office stated. This initiative comes as a strategic effort to ensure rice affordability and accessibility for the region’s population.

According to Philippines News Agency, the NFA is relying on Kadiwa stores to distribute its rice stocks, given the lack of interest from local government units in the region to distribute rice at PHP20 per kg. NFA 8 (Eastern Visayas) manager May Ann Sabarre mentioned that, even before the President’s State of the Nation Address (SONA), the Department of Agriculture had plans to set up two Kadiwa stores in each of the 13 congressional districts in the area.

During his SONA, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. highlighted the feasibility of reducing rice prices, referencing the pilot rollout of the program across various provinces. He emphasized that the PHP20 per kilogram rice is achievable without negatively impacting farmers.

Marcos also stated that PHP13 billion has been allocated to bolster the Department of Agriculture’s initiatives, including the establishment of numerous Kadiwa stores and centers. In Eastern Visayas, efforts are ongoing to involve local governments in the program, with officials working on finalizing the allocation of the PHP6.50 subsidy per kilogram of rice.

The PHP6.50 subsidy represents half of the PHP13 per kilogram government subsidy, with the remaining half supported by the Department of Agriculture through its agency, the Food Terminal, Inc. Previously, NFA rice was sold at PHP33 per kg., but under the new ‘Benteng Bigas Meron (BBM) Na’ program launched on May 1, the price has been directed to PHP20 by government agencies.

Under this program, indigent families can purchase up to 10 kg of rice per week, totaling 40 kg a month. The Visayas was selected for the pilot run due to its poverty rate, which stands at 20.3 percent, significantly higher than the national average of 10.9 percent. The NFA currently has 275,064 bags of rice stored in 19 warehouses within the region, enough to last a week if the government remains the sole provider of staple food.