In line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to provide affordable rice to Filipino families, the government has announced that one million sacks of milled rice are now ready for distribution under the Kadiwa ng Pangulo program.
Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. confirmed the availability during a press briefing at Malacañang on Monday, emphasizing that the rice is part of the National Food Authority’s (NFA) buffer stock procured through the General Appropriations Act (GAA).
“We currently have one million sacks of milled rice ready for release. These are NFA rice stocks acquired through our regular budget, with no additional government spending beyond logistics,” said Secretary Laurel.
Initial distributions have begun, with shipments from Mindoro already reaching Cebu, and Bohol scheduled to receive its allocation this week. In Cebu alone, 37 local government units (LGUs) have already participated, selling nearly 12,000 sacks of rice through 34 active Kadiwa outlets. The DA reported a strong positive reception from the public.
To enhance the customer experience during distribution, the DA is implementing improvements such as providing chairs, electric fans, and tents at Kadiwa outlets to address long queues and extreme heat.
“Given the current weather, we are taking steps to make the buying experience more comfortable for our consumers,” Laurel added.
Looking ahead, the second phase of the Kadiwa program will launch this July, focusing on high-poverty areas including Zamboanga del Norte, Basilan, Maguindanao del Norte, Maguindanao del Sur, Cotabato City, Tawi-Tawi, Davao Oriental, and Sorsogon.
The number of Kadiwa outlets nationwide is expected to increase to 55 by next month, with a long-term goal to serve 15 million families or approximately 60 million Filipinos by 2028.
This initiative reflects the Marcos administration’s ongoing commitment to ensuring food accessibility, affordability, and sustainability for every Filipino.
