P40/KILO NG BIGAS PINALAWAK SA PALENGKE, TRAIN STATIONS

BUKOD sa mga nasimulan na sa ilang piling palengke sa Metro Manila, inilarga rin ng Department of Agriculture (DA) ang KADIWA ng Pangulo kiosks na nagbebenta ng murang bigas at mga produktong pang-agrikultura sa ilan pang piling pamilihan at train stations sa Metro Manila.

“Following the successful initial rollout last week in five public markets and select train stations, the DA is expanding the Rice-for-All program to nine additional locations. The new markets and LRT/MRT stations include Maypajo Public Market (Caloocan City), Murphy Market and Cloverleaf Balintawak (Quezon City), La Huerta Market (Parañaque City), Trabajo Market (Sampaloc, Manila), and several key train stations: Cubao (LRT2), Recto (LRT2), North Avenue (MRT3), and Ayala Avenue (MRT3),” ang sabi ng DA sa isang statement kahapon, Disyembre 13.

Pinangunahan ni DA Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. ang pagbisita sa Pasay City Public Market upang matiyak ang maayos na rollout ng KADIWA ng Pangulo kiosks na nagbebenta ng abot-kayang bigas sa ilalim ng Rice-for-All program ng DA.

“The [Rice-for-All] program, which offers well-milled rice at P40 per kilo, is a realization of President Bongbong Marcos’ vision to provide affordable rice options to more Filipinos. This program is separate from the P29 rice initiative, which specifically supports vulnerable sectors, including senior citizens, persons with disabilities, solo parents, and indigents,” sabi ni Tiu Laurel.

“We will continue to expand these KADIWA kiosks to more cities and municipalities in the coming weeks to ensure that rice prices reflect true market conditions, especially following President Marcos’ decision to reduce tariffs from 35 percent to 15 percent in July… The DA will be unrelenting in pushing this program to keep rice traders and retailers honest, and ensure consumers aren’t taken advantage of by unscrupulous businessmen,” dagdag pa niya.

Ayon naman kay Teresita Bonifacio, retail seller sa La Huerta Market, maganda ang pagtanggap ng mga mamimili sa bigas na P40 kada kilo ang presyo. “The rice arrives before 7:00 AM, and after delivery, it’s quickly bought because it’s good quality. On some days, we sell out all 50 sacks by 10:00 AM, so we immediately replenish our stock,” sabi ni Bonifacio.

Ang Rice-for-All program ay isang kolaborasyon sa pagitan ng DA Agribusiness at ng Marketing Assistance Service and Food Terminal Inc. Ma. Luisa Macabuhay-Garcia