KIDAPAWAN CITY — Hundreds of villagers flocked to the National Food Authority (NFA)–Cotabato warehouse as early as dawn on Monday, March 30, desperate to secure a share of subsidized rice priced at just ₱20 per kilogram.
The high demand for the affordable staple led some residents to camp outside the warehouse overnight to ensure they received priority numbers. To better serve those traveling from far-flung barangays, NFA-Cotabato announced an increase in the individual purchase limit, raising it from 10 kilograms to 30 kilograms per person.
To maintain order and ensure equitable distribution, the NFA has implemented a strict purchasing schedule:
- Mondays and Fridays: Reserved for residents of Kidapawan City.
- Tuesdays and Thursdays: Open to residents from neighboring municipalities.
Buyers are required to present a valid identification card to security personnel before they can obtain a priority number for the day’s sale.
The availability of ₱20 rice in Kidapawan represents a significant step toward the administration’s long-stated goal of lowering rice prices for the country’s most vulnerable sectors. For many local families, the difference between market prices and the NFA-subsidized rate provides much-needed relief amid the rising cost of other basic goods and services.
Despite the long wait times and the necessity of camping out, residents expressed gratitude for the increased volume they can now take home, noting that 30 kilograms can sustain a medium-sized family for nearly a month.
NFA officials in the region continue to monitor the supply to ensure that the warehouse can meet the ongoing influx of buyers from across the province of Cotabato.