The Department of Agriculture is coordinating with the National Food Authority to determine if they have enough rice to supply Kadiwa Stores nationwide.
In a television interview, DA's Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service director Junibert de Sagun noted that some Kadiwa stores are still from the farmers and not from the NFA.
"Right now, the sellers in the regular Kadiwa stores are selling farmers' rice, not NFA Rice. But maybe, with the directive of the President, we will put NFA Rice in coordination with the National Food Authority," De Sagun said in the vernacular.
But during the "Kadiwa sa Pasko" launch that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. spearheaded in Mandaluyong on Wednesday morning, NFA was able to sell rice at P25 per kilo.
"There was NFA rice in the Kadiwa stores when it was officially launched, but our regular Kadiwa that has been running for several months is to give the farmer a chance to sell rice. So that's a balancing act. In the past, it was rice from local farmers," De Sagun said.
For now, a spokesperson said that the P25 per kilogram of rice sold at some "Kadiwa ng Pasko" will continue to be offered every payday until 31 December.
In a separate radio interview Friday, Agriculture Assistant Secretary Kristine Evangelista said the next "Kadiwa ng Pasko" is scheduled on 29 November in at least 14 areas nationwide, including at least 11 locations in Metro Manila.
"Our Kadiwa ng Pasko will be available every payday until 31 December. After the launching on 16 November, we will have it on 29 November. We will post all the locations," Evangelista said.
In order to accommodate the "Kadiwa ng Pasko" project, Evangelista noted that the organization is now working with the Office of the President and other local government units.
