MANILA – The Department of Agriculture (DA) is set to sell healthier and cheaper rice options called “Sulit” and “Nutri” rice in 2025.
In a recent interview, DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said both options would be available in Kadiwa ng Pangulo (KNP) stores to benefit more Filipinos.
The “sulit” rice, which is 100 percent broken but white, will be sold at PHP35 per kg. to PHP36/kg. while “nutri” rice, which is neither white nor brownish local rice, will be sold at PHP36/kg to PHP37/kg.
“Pero yung (But) 100 percent broken comes from the good variety of rice, imported rice yan (that’s imported rice). Pero siyempre, kung may (But of course, if there will be) local sources, we may buy local,” Tiu Laurel said.
“Available na siya dito sa importer and kinakain namin sa DA ngayon iyan, masarap siya, puting-puti (It’s already available here from importers and we at the DA are eating it. It’s delicious, it’s really white).”
The DA chief, meanwhile, said that he’s also consuming the nutri-type of rice, which he said he personally prefers due to its health benefits.
“To be honest with you, sa bahay ko, yan ang kinakain namin kasi mas okay. Ako, diabetic ako. When I eat it, hindi nagsa-spike ang sugar ko (At home, that is what we are consuming because it’s better. I’m diabetic. When I eat it, my sugar level does not spike). Then, it’s more filling,” Tiu Laurel said.
Unlike the typical retail rice, which undergoes the “three pass” milling process, the nutri rice is only subject to one pass.
“Iyong pag three pass na yan, nawawala lahat ng minerals, nutrients, plus fiber, nawawala iyan. Sa one pass, lahat ng nutrients and fiber nandyan pa rin (In the three pass, all minerals, nutrients, plus fiber are gone. But in one pass, the nutrients and fiber are still there),” Tiu Laurel said.
It also poses a higher milling recovery of 78 percent, higher than the 63 percent recovery from the three pass milling of palay.
The DA is set to launch the sale of “sulit rice” in January and the “nutri rice” by mid-2025.
Cheaper rice for all
The DA is likewise set to use its PHP5 billion worth of approved fund for the KNP.
“I just found out na lumabas na iyong letter (the letter has been released) from the OP (Office of the President) allowing us to use the PHP5 billion for Rice for All at P29,” Tiu Laurel said.
“So, starting January, sabi ko (I said), latest January 15, we will be buying rice from the traders, the farmers, farmer cooperatives, from the importers, and sell it through the Kadiwa ng Pangulo at hopefully PHP38, PHP39,” he added, citing lower price target that the usual price of Rice for All in KNPs.
The Rice for All refers to the sale of PHP40/kg. mixed local and imported commercial well-milled rice; while the P29 is the sale of the aging but good quality stocks of National Food Authority (NFA) rice at PHP29/kg. to the vulnerable sector, including members of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), senior citizens, solo parents, and persons with disabilities (PWDs).
Of the PHP5 billion, the DA earlier said it would allocate about PHP3 billion for Rice for All; PHP1.5 billion for P29 or the sale of PHP29/kg. of aging but good quality stocks of rice from the National Food Authority (NFA) for the disadvantaged sector; and PHP500 million for rehabilitation of warehouses and logistics cost.
To date, the DA targets to operationalize 170 KNP Centers and kiosks before the year ends, 300 by mid-2025, and 1,500 before the Marcos term ends.
To date, some KNP Centers and kiosks are operating in public markets and LRT and MRT stations in Metro Manila. (PNA)