THE Department of Agriculture (DA) on Thursday said it would roll out nationwide two healthier and cheaper rice varieties called “Sulit” and “Nutri” as part of the government’s effort to reduce the cost of the staple.
During the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing, Agriculture Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said that the Sulit Rice would be priced from P35 to P36 per kilogram (kg), while the Nutri Rice would be sold for P37 to P38 per kg.
De Mesa described the Nutri Rice as between well-milled and brown rice, while the Sulit Rice is 100 percent broken white rice.
He said the new rice varieties, to be available starting January, would be in addition to the P40 per kg price for mixed local and imported well-milled rice currently offered at Kadiwa stores.
“We expect this January to start selling Nutri Rice and Sulit Rice in Kadiwa ng Pangulo Centers, selected markets and train stations,” de Mesa said.
He assured the public that there was enough supply of the Sulit Rice and Nutri Rice, which would be sourced from local and imported supplies.
He said that the government planned to further increase the number of Kadiwa ng Pangulo centers to 700 by March.
“We expect that before the end of 2028, the total number of Kadiwa ng Pangulo sites throughout the Philippines will be 1,500,” de Mesa said. The Kadiwa ng Pangulo’s Rice for All program provides cheaper rice.
The DA also plans to open more Kadiwa kiosks at major public markets nationwide, as well as at Metro Rail Transit (MRT) and Light Rail Transit (LRT) stations.
Kadiwa ng Pangulo kiosks operate in Kamuning Market, Malabon Central Market, New Las Piñas City Public Market, Pasay City Public Market, Guadalupe Market, MRT-North Avenue Station, and LRT-Monumento Station.
Last month, the DA started selling well-milled rice priced at P40 per kilogram in Kadiwa ng Pangulo kiosks in Kamuning Market, Malabon Central Market, New Las Piñas City Public Market and Pasay City Public Market. The Kadiwa kiosks are open Tuesdays to Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The DA brought the Rice-for-All program to public markets in response to “persistently high” retail prices despite reduced tariff rates and declining global rice prices.
Executive Order 62 slashed the import duty on rice to 15 percent until 2028 from 35 percent previously in a bid to augment local supply, manage prices and ease the inflationary pressure of commodities.
The government had earmarked an additional P5-billion budget for Rice-for-All and P29 rice programs, with the latter aimed at making discounted rice available to about 6.9 million low-income households.
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