Pangilinan tells DA to sell rice stocks through Kadiwa outlets

Photo from Kiko Pangilinan’s Facebook page.

MANILA, Philippines — Former Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan on Wednesday called on the Department of Agriculture (DA) to distribute the National Food Authority’s (NFA) aging rice stock to Kadiwa outlets nationwide to ensure that affordable rice is available to the public.

According to Pangilinan in a statement, the DA’s aging rice stock amounts to 300,000 tons.

READ: Marcos: Nat’l food emergency seen to lower rice prices

He made the pronouncement after the government recently announced that it would announce a national food emergency.

“Sa mahal ng mga bilihin ngayon, malaking tulong at ginhawa para sa mga kababayan natin ang pagkakaroon ng mura at abot-kayang bigas na maaring bilhin sa mga Kadiwa centers,” Pangilinan, who is running for senator in the 2025 polls, said.

(With the high cost of goods today, having cheap and affordable rice that can be purchased at Kadiwa centers is a great help and relief for our countrymen.)

Pangilinan explained that while Republic Act (RA) No. 11203 or the Rice Tariffication Law prohibits the NFA from selling directly to the public, Pangilinan said RA No. 12078 grants the DA Secretary the authority to sell NFA rice stocks to the public through Kadiwa outlets during such emergency.

“Kailangang maipatupad ito sa lalong madaling panahon nang sa gayon ay maibsan ang mga pasanin ng mga naghihikahos nating kababayan,” he added.

(This needs to be implemented as soon as possible to alleviate the burdens of our impoverished countrymen.)

Pangilinan previously served as head of the NFA during former President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III’s term.

During this stint, the former senator managed to reduce rice prices up to P3 pesos per kilo through interventions that reduced rice inflation from 15 percent to 0.8 percent.