THE Department of Agriculture (DA) said it will roll out two cheaper and healthier rice varieties for Filipinos, called “Sulit Rice” and “Nutri Rice”, as part of continuing efforts to bring down the price of rice in local markets.
DA spokesperson Assistant Secretary Arnel De Mesa in a televised briefing said that Sulit Rice, which he describes as 100 percent broken white rice, will be sold locally from P35 to P36 per kilo, while Nutri Rice, which he describes as between well-milled and brown rice, will be sold from P37 to P38 per kilo.
“Nagsimula na ito sa NCR (National Capital Region) at ngayong taon ay ipapakalat na natin sa ibang bahagi ng bansa. Itong Sulit Rice, nagkakahalaga ito ng P35 to P36 kada kilo at ito yung tinatawag nating 100 percent broken na bigas maganda ang quality. Ang kaibahan lang nito ay broken itong bigas na ito. Sinubukan na namin itong iluto sa opisina, at maganda naman ang quality ng bigas na ito,” he said.
“Ang Nutri rice naman ito ay in between well-milled and brown rice, marami pang nutrients na natira nito. Ito rin ang tinatawag naming one-pass rice. Marami pa itong fiber at vitamins and minerals, at ititinda naman ito sa P37 to P38 per kilo,” he continued.
De Mesa said: “Inaasahan natin ngayong January magsisimula na ang pagbebenta ng Nutri Rice at Sulit Rice sa mga Kadiwa ng Pangulo centers, mga piling pamilihan at sa mga istasyon ng tren.”
The DA spokesperson meanwhile assured that there is enough supply of the Sulit Rice and Nutri Rice for the country, which will be sourced from both local and imported supplies.
He also said that the government plans to further increase the number of Kadiwa ng Pangulo centers across the country to 700 by March.
“Inaasahan natin bago matapos ang 2028 ay nasa 1,500 ang total number ng Kadiwa ng Pangulo sites sa buong Pilipinas,” he said. (ABS-CBN News)
