2 days Ago By Iya Gozum
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rapplerAds.displayAd( "mobile-middle-1" );MANILA, Philippines – The implementation of the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) P20/kilo rice program in Visayas, Negros Island Region, and select Kadiwa centers will depend on whether or not the Commission on Elections (Comelec) will allow the sale of subsidized rice before the May 12, 2025 midterm polls.The DA has set the launch of the rice program in Cebu on Thursday, May 1.
For Kadiwa sites, the government has targeted the launch on Friday, May 2.Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said they are awaiting the Comelec’s ruling on whether the P20/kilo rice sale in Kadiwa sites will be exempted from the election spending ban.
“Kung hindi talaga pwede ito, susunod kasi tayo sa Comelec at uumpisahan na lang ang bentahan matapos ang halalan,” Tiu Laurel said in a presser on Tuesday, April 29.(If this will not be allowed, we will have to follow Comelec and start selling after the elections.)The DA already secured an exemption from the election spending ban from the Comelec last week.
However, the poll body said local governments participating in the subsidized rice program will have to separately request exemptions from them.It is not yet clear if the sale of rice will have to be delayed even if the launch in Cebu takes place, in case the Comelec does not give an exemption to local governments.“We might cancel it or just launch it lang na since we’re prepared na, ‘di ba? (or just launch it since we’re already prepared)” Tiu Laurel told reporters.
The agriculture secretary announced previously that they will implement a P20/kilo rice program in the Visayas. Supply will come from National Food Authority (NFA) warehouses, which currently store 370,000 metric tons of rice. Purchase of NFA rice under this program is limited to 30 kilos per month.
On Monday, April 28, the DA said they would also launch the P20/kilo rice program in Kadiwa centers. This will replace the P29/kilo rice currently sold at Kadiwa sites.If the P20/kilo rice sale pushes through at Kadiwa centers on May 2, it will be launched in eight sites in Metro Manila, said DA Assistant Secretary Genevieve E.
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displayAd( "middle-2" );window.rapplerAds.displayAd( "mobile-middle-2" );Only vulnerable sectors can purchase at P20/kilo rice at Kadiwa sites, including senior citizens, persons with disability, solo parents, and beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.
These Kadiwa centers are located at:Bureau of Animal Industry in Visayas Avenue, Quezon CityBureau of Plant Industry in Malate, ManilaPhilippine Fiber Industry in Las PiñasBagong Sibol Market in Marikina Disiplina Village Ugong in ValenzuelaNavotas City HallCamp CrameAgribusiness Development Center in Quezon CityFunding for the subsidized NFA rice program came from the Office of the President’s contingency fund, according to Tiu Laurel, at P5 billion.Tiu Laurel estimates the government losing P10 to 12 billion in order to sell NFA rice this cheap. The program will last until the end of December.
“Sa ngayon, kung di namin mabenta ‘yan, at mabulok ‘yan sa aming warehouses, walang value ‘yan. P3 na lang per kilo yan,” Tiu Laurel said. “Sinubukan namin ibenta ng P33 peso ‘yan, hindi naman kumagat dahil bumaba na rin yung presyo ng bigas.
”(Now, if we can’t sell that and it rots in our warehouses, it loses its value. We tried selling it at P33, it did not catch on because rice prices also dropped.)The government sold NFA rice at P33/kilo to participating local governments after it announced a food security emergency in February.
This is part of the DA’s efforts to dispose of NFA rice stocks given warehouses are already at full capacity.Must Read Halfway through his term, is Marcos close to fulfilling rice promise? – Rappler.com.
