DOLE eyes expanding P20/kilo rice program

MANILA, Philippines — After the rollout of the P20-per-kilo rice program for minimum wage earners, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is now looking to expand the program to cover up to 500,000 minimum wage earners nationwide by the end of the year.
Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said DOLE is working with labor organizations and other eligible groups to enable more “vulnerable and disadvantaged” individuals to avail of the P20 per kilo rice program.
“We had a successful run of the program last Friday, and we will continue this up to the end of the year in order to see any improvements that would make for an even better implementation of the program,” Laguesma said in Filipino in a radio interview yesterday.
He said 16,000 minimum wage earners were able to purchase P20 per kilo rice during Friday’s rollout. DOLE is targeting 100,000 beneficiaries in July.
Laguesma said based on the initial list from employers, 100,000 minimum wage earners want to take advantage of the program. DOLE is coordinating with employers to ensure the eligibility of beneficiaries.
“We would like to add more beneficiaries before the year ends. We can reach up to 500,000 minimum wage earners. We will intensify the extent of our reach,” he said.
Laguesma said the different DOLE and Department of Agriculture (DA) regional offices are now discussing operational and logistical concerns for the implementation of the program in their respective areas.
However, he stressed that the rice subsidy program is not intended as a replacement for wage increases.
Laguesma noted that the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board in Metro Manila has started the public hearing on wage adjustment, while other regions are expected to follow soon.
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Aside from rice, other essential commodities at affordable prices will be made more accessible to workers, as DOLE and the DA expanded their partnership with the implementation of the Kadiwa ng Pangulo program.
Laguesma said DOLE and the DA have forged another agreement, allowing beneficiaries of the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP) to participate in the Kadiwa ng Pangulo program as producers, suppliers, retailers or operators of Kadiwa Stores.
Under the agreement, DOLE’s regional, provincial and field offices will identify and endorse qualified groups such as associations, labor unions and other eligible stakeholders, to the Kadiwa ng Pangulo program.
DOLE will also provide support under the DILP and coordinate with the DA on supplier linkage, establishment of Kadiwa stores and marketing and logistics operations.
Laguesma said DOLE will also assist in orienting DILP beneficiaries on the Kadiwa ng Pangulo program to ensure compliance with food safety and regulatory standards, and encourage farmer cooperatives and associations to undergo DA’s supplier/consolidator recognition process and register with the Farmers and Fisherfolk Enterprise Development Information System.
During the Labor Day celebration last May, DOLE awarded Kadiwa retail stores to seven labor organizations, with 152 beneficiaries across Central Luzon, Central Visayas and Eastern Visayas.
Laguesma said the total funding for those initiatives amounted to P2.67 million.
“All regions will have a Kadiwa Store for interested labor organizations,” he said.
According to Laguesma, DOLE is also exploring the tapping of Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged Workers or TUPAD program beneficiaries to meet human resource requirements for the Kadiwa ng Pangulo program.
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