The Department of Agriculture (DA) highlighted local agricultural products during the 2024 World Food Day celebration on Monday.

DA Undersecretary for Operations Roger Navarro said agricultural products are either free or sold at a discounted price during the event themed “Right to Foods for a Better Life and a Better Future” at the central office in Quezon City.

“Libre at mayroon din ibebenta natin na mura ang presyo. Siguro 20 percent cheaper ang price natin dito (There’s free and others sold at a more affordable price. Our price here is about 20 percent cheaper). Some are coming from Mindanao, some from Visayas and Luzon,” he said in an interview.

Available products include fresh vegetables, fruits, dried fish and carabao milk.

Navarro invited the public to visit the exhibit of locally produced agricultural commodities until Oct. 16.

“We are preparing food coming from the production area para makikita natin lahat (so that we can see it all). And by Wednesday all the regional offices will also have an exhibit and also a display of foods,” he said.

Navarro said there are plans to make Kadiwa more accessible to Filipinos with at least 1,500 more outlets.

“Nationwide, mayroon tayong (we have) 500 (Kadiwa stores). We hope to tap other agencies and offices of the government that are in the more populated area, nandun sa center, para magkaroon ng display ng iba’t ibang produkto (those that are in the center to have a display of various products),” he said.

Of the total, 41 sites are operating under Kadiwa ng Pangulo which offers PHP43 per kilogram of well-milled rice under “Rice for All” and PHP29/kg for the aging but good quality rice stocks of the National Food Authority (NFA) under the P29 program.

The DA earlier expressed plans to expand Kadiwa ng Pangulo to 169 sites by the end of the year to make cheaper rice accessible nationwide.

Navarro assured continuous efforts to make rice cheaper even in the retail markets.

“Gusto natin babaan na at least aabot siya ng PHP42 or PHP40 para magkaroon ng affordability iyong mga tao (We want to lower its price to at least PHP42 or PHP40 to provide affordability to people),” he said.

Besides the Rice for All and P29 programs, the DA hopes to help lower rice retail prices with continuous assistance to farmers, implementation of reduced tariffs on imported rice, and lower but reasonable price range of buying price for palay from farmers under the NFA, alongside the effects of easing price pressures in the international market. (PNA)