Kadiwa stores selling cheap rice to be set up in major train stations next week

MANILA — Consumers will soon be able to buy cheaper rice at select MRT and LRT stations beginning next week. 

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel said that Kadiwa Rice For All booths will be set up at the MRT North Avenue and LRT Monumento stations by Tuesday. The booths will be open from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Laurel also said two rice varieties will eventually be sold in the Kadiwa stores such as well-milled rice, "nutri rice" which will be sold at P38 per kilo, and "sulit rice" at P36 a kilo. He said they may start selling these other varieties in January next year.

On Friday, the Department of Agriculture also signed a memorandum of understanding with the Department of Labor and Employment to bring more Kadiwa stores to different parts of the country. Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said this aims to make more affordable agricultural produce reach more Filipinos.

“Nakita namin na magandang behikulo ang Kadiwa ng Pangulo na ilalapit sa mga lugar na may konsentrasyon ng manggagawa halimbawa mga ecozone. Pwede naming ma-tap ang mga labor organization diyan para mabigyan ng pagkakataon ang mga karaniwang mangagawa ng access sa affordable at dekalidad na mga produkto,” he said.

(We saw that the Kadiwa ng Pangulo is a good mechanism to bring affordable goods, especially in areas with a high concentration of workers, like in economic zones. We can also tap labor organizations to give workers better access to affordable quality products.

Laurel said the department aims to expand the number of Kadiwa stores to over 1,000. The move will inevitably require logistical support and additional manpower. Hence, aside from bringing affordable products directly to communities, they are confident that the measure will also open more job opportunities for Filipinos.

But as with any initiative, the DA acknowledges challenges, particularly in terms of logistics.

“The biggest challenge is logistics. It takes time to figure out yung throughput ng bawat store eh. Initially malamang meron kang overstock or understock. That’s the biggest challenge. The second will be capable manpower of running these stores and running it properly,” Laurel said.

Despite this, the DA and DOLE are hopeful that similar to the reception of consumers to Kadiwa stores in the National Capital Region, those in the regions will also take advantage of more affordable products once they are rolled out other regions in the country.