Cheaper rice sold at more MRT, LRT stations soon

MANILA, Philippines — Cheaper rice could soon be sold at other stations of the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) and Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1), an official of the Department of Agriculture (DA) said yesterday.

DA Assistant Secretary for agribusiness, marketing and consumer affairs Genevieve Velicaria-Guevarra said that apart from the MRT North Avenue and LRT Moñumento stations, they are studying other areas in the mass rail transit systems where Kadiwa ng Pangulo kiosks selling rice at P40 per kilo could be installed.

Guevarra said that among these are the MRT Guadalupe station in Makati and the LRT Taft and Baclaran stations which would serve people from southern Metro Manila and even Cavite.

“That’s the expansion that we are looking at,” she said at a news forum in Quezon City.

While there were offers to put up kiosks at every station, the DA wants to focus at stations where there are more commuters, according to Guevarra.

She said that after it was deferred due to traffic and security concerns, the rollout of the cheaper rice at the two stations would be held on Tuesday.

The kiosks will operate from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. from Tuesday to Saturday, when commuters are on their way home.

Guevarra said the DA had opted not to sell the rice in the morning as most of the people are on their way to work.

There are about 41 Kadiwa centers in Metro Manila and nearby provinces, which provide cheaper rice for people in vulnerable sectors.