BAGUIO CITY (PIA) — The general public can now buy affordable rice at the Kadiwa Farmacy, Slaughter Compound, Baguio City.
This project, which sells rice at P35/kilo rice is initiated by city government of Baguio, through the City Veterinary and Agriculture Office (CVAO), in partnership with PhilRice Isabela, Saint Vincent Parish Multi-Purpose Cooperative, and Granjeros de Oeste Organization. This is in support of the Rice-for-All program of the government that aims to provide lower-priced rice and ensure food security for Filipinos.
Each person can buy a minimum of one sack (25 kgs) and a maximum of two sacks at P875 per sack.
CVAO Marketing Focal Kadiwa Godfrey Sapdit said the rice supply comes directly from farmers in Nueva Vizcaya.
“Yung rice from Nueva Vizcaya, sila na mismo ang magpapadala dito sa Baguio, consignment pa ‘yun, hindi pa cash,” Sapdit said.
The CVAO emphasized that this rice is for personal and family consumption only, and retailing is strictly prohibited.
The first batch of 250 sacks of delivery was sold out on Sept. 25, 2025. The second batch will be sold during the formal opening of the Kadiwa Farmacy on Oct. 6, 2025.
“Malaki ang epekto nito for consumers. Ang binibili kasi nating bigas dun sa palengke, more or less 40 plus pa. Meron pa ngang umabot ng 47. So, ‘yan is 35 pesos, malaking discount or diperensya dun sa mga binibili nating rice. So, from farmers ng Nueva Vizcaya, tapos, meron ‘yung coop pa nila sa ibang outlets, kaya wala na ‘yung ‘middleman’, diretso na,” Sapdit stated.
Consumers expressed their gratitude for the lower price of rice available to the general public.
”Mura kasi kaya bumili tayo, kasi sa iba, sa kinukuha ko diyan sa iba?1,100 kasi isang kaban, eh eto? 875 mas mura,” a consumer said.
City Veterinarian Silardo Bested also said that aside from affordable rice, the soon to open ‘farmacy’ will sell other agriculture products including vegetables, processed goods, and other food products.
“Ang Kadiwa for agri-based products, hindi pwedeng magbenta ng iba. Puwedeng raw, puwedeng processed as long as agri-based products,” Bested said.
The Kadiwa Farmacy will be turned over to the Granjeros de Oeste Organization, which will operate the store as a consolidator. **JDP/DEG/Camille Beray & Wendell Ramos- PIA-SLU Interns)
