BULACAN — Rice millers and traders from Intercity in Bulacan have agreed to sell cheaper rice in public markets in Metro Manila to help the public get easier access to inexpensive rice.

Intercity is a village in the towns of Balagtas and Bocaue, housing dozens of rice mills that supply most of the rice in Manila markets. Using their trucks, they will directly sell rice at P40-P41 per kilo in several markets.

"Kami po na mga magbibigas dito ay nagkasundo na tutulong sa gobyerno na maglalagay po kami ng mobile stores sa bawat palengke para makabili si Juan at Pedro ng mababang bigas," said Marilet T. Sulit of the Maunlad Rice Mill Corporation.

(Rice traders here agreed to help the government by putting mobile stores in markets so people could access cheaper rice.)

This is meant to give the public easier access to cheaper rice after the expansion of Kadiwa ng Pangulo in several markets and MRT stations.

More than 15 markets and train stations are now selling P40-per-kilo rice under the government's 'Rice for All' program.

"Willing kami makipagtulungan para may murang mabibili ang ating mga kababayan, kahit na 500 sacks a day, kahit magpalugi kami ng singkwenta pesos kada sako, sampung sako bawat rice mill owner, willing magbigay," said Tinoy Marquez, incoming president of the Intercity Rice Millers Association.

(We are willing to help our consumers. We are committing to give P500 sacks of rice a day, even selling at a loss of P50 per sack at 10 sacks per mill owner. We are willing to give that.)

The DA says the current Kadiwa ng Pangulo kiosks will also soon sell the "Bigas29" to marginalized sectors.

Bigas 29 sells aging rice to senior citizens, solo parents, PWDs, and IPs at P29/kilo.

"The president is aware of the situation at naghahanap ng paraan para maihatid ang murang bigas sa masa," said Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel.

(The president is aware of the situation and they are searching for ways to further pull rice prices down.)

Tiu-laurel said their target is to lower rice prices in January to P38-39 per kilo but they are still computing this as it has to be sustainable.