MALACAÑAN, Manila — Filipinos will meet the New Year with some optimism as affordable rice at ₱40 per kilo will soon be in the market with President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. keen on expanding his 'Kadiwa ng Pangulo Rice-for-All' program that aims to assuage the impact of soaring prices of prime commodities to most households.

The president's pet program resumed yesterday, December 27, on its seventh day, targeting more public markets in time for the celebration of New Year.

The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) noted that rice retailers have already started lowering prices following the successful implementation of the 'Kadiwa ng Psngulo' led by the Department of Agriculture (DA).

The staple being sold at the Kadiwa stores is cheaper by at least ₱3 as compared to those being sold by market retailers. The current retail prices of rice range from ₱48 to ₱55 per kilo.

The good news, too, is that consumers can stock up with cheaper rice supplies as the public is allowed to purchase up to 25 kilos of the affordable rice.

Earlier, agriculture secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. announced that among the cities that agreed to allow the sale of ₱40 per kilo of rice in their markets are Quezon City, Pasay, Caloocan, Manila, Parañaque, Las Piñas, Malabon and Makati.

Targeted to open next year by the DA are at least 1,300 more Kadiwa stores and 1,500 kiosks inside the public markets.

The agriculture chief also disclosed that the Office of the President (OP) has approved the allocation of ₱5 billion for the Rice-for-All and ₱29-per-kilo-of-rice programs.