29 Disyembre,2024 Linggo
2 days to 2025, Happy New Year
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ABS 2025
P20/kilo rice achievable-Quimbo
By Nidz Godino
“Kadiwa ng Pangulo Rice-for-All program resumed Friday, Dec. 27, on its seventh day, targeting more public markets in time for celebration of New Year,” Presidential Communications Office said affordable rice will soon be available in more public markets nationwide as government eyes expansion of its P40 per kilo program.
Rice retailers have started lowering prices following successful implementation of program led by Department of Agriculture (DA), PCO noted.
Staple, being sold at Kadiwa stores at P40 per kilo in some areas in Metro Manila, is cheaper by P3 to P5 compared to those being sold by market retailers.
Public may purchase up to 25 kilos of affordable rice.
“Market retailers are currently reducing their prices to keep up with lower price offered by rolling stores,” the PCO said, quoting DA report.
So far, EDSA Balintawak Market distributed 110 sacks of rice; New Marulas Public Market in Barangay Marulas, Valenzuela City, five sacks and Malabon Central Market, 32 sacks.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. earlier said among cities that agreed to allow sale of P40 per kilo of rice in markets are Quezon City, Pasay, Caloocan, Manila, Parañaque, Las Piñas, Malabon and Makati.
Current retail prices of rice range from P48 to P55 per kilo, DA said.
DA targets to open at least 1,300 more Kadiwa stores next year and 1,500 Kadiwa kiosks inside markets, Tiu Laurel said.
He noted Office of the President has approved allocation of P5 billion for Rice-for-All and P29 per kilo of rice programs.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.has ordered expansion of government’s rice programs and Kadiwa outlets nationwide.
Meanwhile, Marikina 2nd District Rep. Stella Quimbo has asked National Irrigation Administration (NIA) to further study its contract farming program to achieve government’s target price of P20 per kilo of rice in local markets.
Quimbo made call during House quinta committee hearing before Congress went into Christmas break.
Committee, chaired by Rep. Joey Salceda, is probing alleged rice price manipulation by traders and rice importers.
Quimbo requested NIA to present its findings at future meetings of quinta comm.
At recent quinta comm hearing, NIA administrator Eduardo Guillen said Irrigation agency collaborates with irrigation associations, providing funds equivalent to 50 percent of target yield for farm inputs, with remaining paid at harvest time.
Under the program, farmers are free to sell any surplus yield above contracted target.
Guillen said P29 per kilo of rice reflects only 25 percent of total yield under contract farming program, with remaining 75 percent being sold at higher prices.
Contract farming program, he said, is aimed at shifting practice of planting rice only during wet season, when farmers are guaranteed water for their crops.
Guillen said NIA can supply irrigation water during dry season, would allow farmers to harvest earlier, before typhoon season begins.
If NIA managed to sell rice for P29 per kilo under contract farming program, Quimbo said it could also achieve target of P20 per kilo of rice.
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