The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Wednesday said the Kadiwa ng Pangulo program will be expanded in Visayas and Mindanao within the month.

In an interview, DA Assistant Secretary Genevieve Velicaria-Guevarra said more local government units (LGUs) are coordinating with the DA to make the Rice for All and P29 programs accessible to more Filipinos.

Rice for all refers to the sale of local and imported well-milled rice at PHP43 per kilogram, while P29 is the sale of aging but good quality stocks of National Food Authority (NFA) rice at PHP29/kg,

“I think, next week ba iyon sa Cagayan de Oro, iyong request. Sa Visayas, mayroon na tayo diyan sa (the request is in Cagayan de Oro. In Visayas, we already have in) Cebu, sina Governor Gwen (Garcia) has already allowed us to be able to sell the P29. A lot of LGUs din (also) in the Visayas region,” Guevarra said.

She said there are also existing Kadiwa sites that may be converted to Kadiwa ng Pangulo in Western, Central, and Eastern Visayas.

Guevarra, however, cited logistical challenges amid the ongoing nationwide expansion.

“We have the stocks, iyong ano na lang (the concern is) how it can get there through the most efficient and less expensive (manner). Kasi siyempre (Because of course), logistically speaking, we have to really mobilize a lot of our staff,” she said.

Guevarra said they are eyeing to expand the Rice for All and P29 in at least 45 Kadiwa ng Pangulo sites within the month, and a total of 169 before the year ends.

To date, there are 41 Kadiwa ng Pangulo sites operating in Luzon. (PNA)