Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. announced that the Rice for All (RFA) program, currently available at Kadiwa ng Pangulo Centers and kiosks, will soon be accessible in more supermarkets across the country. During a market monitoring event at Commonwealth Market in Quezon City, Tiu Laurel shared that numerous supermarkets have expressed interest in joining the initiative, with ongoing discussions with Food Terminal Incorporated (FTI) facilitating the expansion. The first major partnership was secured with MerryMart Groceries Centers Inc. on January 31, with other chains like 7-Eleven, SM, and Robinsons also showing interest. Tiu Laurel aims for a broader rollout of RFA by the first week of March, at the latest by mid-March, emphasizing the importance of a well-organized logistics and sales system given the large scale of operations involved. As of now, RFA options have seen price reductions, with RFA5 at PHP43/kg, RFA25 at PHP35/kg, and RFA100 at PHP33/kg. Additionally, the DA is considering setting a maximum suggested retail price for pork in March, following a detailed study on the recent spike in pork prices, which are currently ranging from PHP350/kg to PHP480/kg in Metro Manila.
Rice for All Program to Expand to Supermarkets by Mid-March, Says Agriculture Secretary
·
