The government has launched its nationwide rice price monitoring to assess the impact of the rice tariff reduction across the entire supply chain, from importers to retailers.
The Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Agriculture teamed up for the extensive price monitoring initiative, which covers a wide range of retail markets, including supermarkets, hypermarkets, and grocery stores under the DTI’s jurisdiction, as well as wet markets under the DA.
“These data-driven reports will inform policymakers’ decisions to ensure stable rice supply, distribution, and pricing,” said Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual, who also chairs the National Price Coordinating Council (NPCC).
Pascual said the DTI would remain steadfast in the rigorous monitoring and analysis of rice price fluctuations.
President Marcos last month issued Executive Order No. 62 that reduced the tariff on rice from 35 percent to 15 percent as well as tariffs on other agricultural products.
Earlier, the DA kicked off a large-scale trial of “Program 29” to deliver high-quality rice at P29 per kilogram to as many as 6.9 million vulnerable households, or around 35 million Filipinos.
Initially, 10 Kadiwa centers in Metro Manila and Bulacan participated in the program that would run every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
“We appeal to beneficiaries not to take advantage of this program by reselling the P29 rice from Kadiwa centers. We want to ensure that the largest number of those in the vulnerable sectors will benefit from this program of President Bongbong Marcos,” DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel said.
During the trial, Kadiwa will prepare booklets to track rice purchases of P29 per kilo of rice beneficiaries that include senior citizens, single parents, persons with disabilities, and recipients of the government’s 4Ps program.
Consumers can also purchase essential items like eggs, meat, and vegetables at lower prices at Kadiwa centers.
There are currently 265 established Kadiwa centers operating alongside 119 pop-up stores nationwide.
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