DA to lower Kadiwa ng Pangulo’s Rice for All prices by up to P3/kg

THE PRICE of Rice for All (RFA) options under the Marcos administration’s Kadiwa ng Pangulo (KNP) is set to drop by PHP2 to PHP3/kg. starting Wednesday, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said Tuesday.

The DA’s move comes amid the continuous downward trend of rice prices in the global market and the upcoming peak of palay (unhusked rice) harvest season.

“Starting tomorrow (Feb. 12), RFA5 rice will be priced at PHP43 per kilogram, RFA25 at PHP35/kg., and RFA100 at PHP33/kg.,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said in a statement.

The RFA5 or the 5 percent broken rice is currently priced at PHP45/kg.; while the RFA25 or the 25 percent broken rice is at PHP38/kg.; and PHP36/kg. for RFA100 or Sulit rice, which is 100 percent broken but white.

The National Food Authority (NFA), likewise, will continue its P29 program or the sale of PHP29/kg. aging but good quality rice stocks in KNP Centers for the vulnerable sector including members of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), senior citizens, persons with disabilities (PWDs), and solo parents.

The RFA options, meanwhile, will be lower than the retail prices monitored in Metro Manila as of Monday, which include imported premium rice ranging from PHP48 to PHP58/kg.; imported well-milled rice, PHP44 to PHP45/kg. and imported regular-milled rice at PHP38 to PHP46/kg., according to the DA Bantay Presyo (price watch).

Local premium rice, meanwhile, ranges from PHP46 to PHP58/kg.; local well-milled at PHP42 to PHP52/kg.; and PHP38 to PHP45/kg. for local regular-milled rice.

On Feb. 5, the DA lowered its maximum suggested retail price (MSRP) for imported 5 percent broken rice to PHP55/kg., which is PHP3 lower than the first PHP58/kg. MSRP set last Jan. 20.

The MSRP was earlier implemented to help tame spiking retail prices alongside other government interventions like lower tariffs on imported rice and availability of RFA options and P29 in KNP Centers and kiosks.

The DA, likewise, declared a food security emergency for rice to help influence markets in bringing down rice retail prices; release rice stocks at PHP33/kg. from the NFA to the local government units (LGUs), government agencies, and government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs) which can sell it at a PHP35/kg.-level to consumers; and free up NFA warehouses to give space for local palay procurement from farmers. (Stephanie Sevillano)