By Stephanie Sevillano
MANILA – Kadiwa ng Pangulo (KNP) kiosks selling well-milled rice at PHP40 per kg. is now operational in four LRT-2 and MRT-3 stations, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said Wednesday.
As of Dec. 11, the KNP kiosks, under the Rice for All program, are operational at the MRT-3 North Avenue and Ayala stations, and at the LRT-2 Araneta Center-Cubao Station on Aurora Boulevard, and Recto Station on Claro M. Recto Street.
“Patuloy tayong nakikipag-ugnayan sa DOTr (Department of Transportation) para madagdagan din itong mga station na nagtitinda ng Rice for All (We are continuously coordinating with the DOTr to add more stations offering the Rice for All),” DA Assistant Secretary Arnel De Mesa said during the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing.
KNP kiosks in the four train stations operate Tuesday to Saturday from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. or until supplies last.
The KNP kiosks are also accessible in five public markets in Metro Manila on top of the existing KNP Centers in Luzon – Murphy Public Market along 15th Avenue corner Liberty Street and Balintawak Cloverleaf Market along EDSA corner Old Samson Road, Balintawak in Quezon City; the Pamilihang Bayan ng Trabajo on 751 J. Marzan Street, Manila; the Pasay City Public Market in Antonio Arnaiz Avenue corner Taft Avenue; the Pamilihang Bayan ng Bagong Parañaque (La Huerta); and the Maypajo Public Market along J.P. Rizal Street in Caloocan.
The public may buy the PHP40 per kg. rice from the KNP kiosks in the public markets from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on similar days.
De Mesa said more KNP kiosks would be operational in more public markets in Metro Manila in the coming weeks, citing the positive reception from consumers.
“Napakaganda ng pagtanggap ng ating mga kababayan dito sa PHP40 per kilo na (Our fellow Filipinos warmly welcome the PHP40 per kg. rice under the) Rice for All,” he said.
“In fact, talagang nauubos agad at nagkakaroon na ngayon ng adjustment ang ating FTI (Food and Terminal Inc.) na ka-partner natin sa logistics at distribution para madagdagan natin iyong supply ng bigas (the supply is immediately exhausted and the FTI, our partner in logistics and distribution, is making adjustments to increase the rice supply).”
The DA earlier said it aims to expand the Rice for All program, alongside operations of more KNP kiosks in other parts of the country at the start of 2025.
The DA will use its newly approved budget for the KNP worth PHP5 billion, with PHP3 billion allocated for Rice for All; PHP1.5 billion for P29 or the sale of PHP29 per kg. of aging but good quality stocks of rice from the National Food Authority (NFA) for the disadvantaged sector; and PHP500 million for rehabilitating warehouses and logistics cost. (PNA)
