MANILA — The Department of Agriculture on Friday assured the public that the P20 rice sold in Kadiwa centers is of good quality.

“Maganda po 'yung quality ng ating bigas. Kung ano po 'yung nabibili natin previously dito sa ating P29 na bigas, ayun din po 'yung binebenta natin ng P20,” DA Assistant Secretary Genevieve Velicaria-Guevarra said in an interview with Teleradyo Serbisyo.

The DA official, who heads the Kadiwa program, said the agriculture department uses the National Food Authority’s well-milled rice, which she said is “very fit for human consumption.”

“Bago po ito lumabas sa NFA, chine-check din po ito at tintingnan ng NFA, may quality control din po sila dito. At ine-ensure din po nila na ‘yung atin pong mga bigas na ibebenta dito sa programa ay very much fit for human consumption,” she said.

The P20 Rice Program is offered to the vulnerable sector, including indigents, senior citizens, solo parents, and persons with disabilities. Each beneficiary can purchase a maximum of 30 kilos of rice per month.

Senior citizens flock to Kadiwa stores as P20 per kilo rice program officially launches

Velicaria reminded beneficiaries to bring their IDs and eco bags when purchasing in the Kadiwa stores.

P20 RICE AVAILABLE IN 32 KADIWA STORES

The DA official said the P20 rice is being sold in a total of 32 Kadiwa stores in Metro Manila and other areas like Rizal and Cebu. It will soon be available in more areas such as Bohol, Southern Leyte and Siquijor.

Each Kadiwa center was allocated 50 sacks of rice, which Velicaria noted are immediately exhausted after two to three store hours.

“Gusto sana nating i-replenish 'yan pero may challenges tayo ngayon sa logistics,” she said.

The department plans to build a hub to make supplies more available at each site, said Velicaria.

She assures the public that the DA has sufficient supply for the P20 Rice Program through the NFA's buffer stock.

Agri dept preparing for wider rollout of P20 per kilo rice

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