By Michelle Ducut
The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) in the Bicol Region has announced that 1, 150 bags of rice will be available at reduced prices at Kadiwa ng Pangulo stores across its Camarines Sur locations on Friday. This initiative, part of the nationwide Kadiwa program, aims to make basic goods more affordable by reducing intermediaries between farmers and consumers, ultimately helping communities access essential food items at lower costs.
Ma. Cleofe Baraero, spokesperson for NIA-Bicol, shared in an interview that rice prices at Kadiwa stores are set at PHP 29 per kilogram for members of vulnerable groups, including senior citizens, solo parents, persons with disabilities (PWDs), and 4Ps beneficiaries. The general public can purchase rice at PHP 35 per kilogram, with a purchase limit of up to 10 kilograms per person. Customers eligible for the PHP 29 rate are required to present identification as proof of belonging to a priority sector.
This affordable rice sale is in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s commitment to reducing rice prices across the Philippines, addressing food security challenges that have impacted the country. The Kadiwa ng Pangulo initiative, a revival of the original Kadiwa stores first implemented by former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., has emerged as a valuable resource for local communities, bridging the gap between rice producers and consumers and helping to stabilize prices.
In addition to the upcoming sale in Camarines Sur, NIA’s Libmanan and Naga City offices will distribute hundreds of bags of rice to local residents. Similar sales were recently held in other parts of Bicol, with over 3, 400 bags of rice sold in Iriga City and Bulan in Sorsogon earlier in the week. Plans for further Kadiwa rice sales are underway, with schedules for additional stores expected to be finalized in the coming weeks.