President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Wednesday reiterated his goal of eliminating hunger as he expressed hope that there will be not one more hungry Filipino by the end of his administration.
This, after the President led the Kadiwa ng Pangulo program, which is a market linkage facilitation program of the Department of Agriculture (DA) that aims to make products such as rice, fish, poultry and livestock, fruits and vegetables, and other basic commodities accessible, available, and affordable to poor families.
“Kailangan talaga namin gawin ‘yan, dahil hindi natin pababayaan ang ating mga kababayan. At sinabi ko na, ilang beses ang aking pangarap sa aking administrasyon ay sana ay wala ng gutom na Pilipino,” said the President in a speech in Rizal Park, Manila.
The President assured Filipinos of his administration’s commitment to continue providing fresh and affordable agricultural and fishery products while at the same time offer additional markets for local farmers and fishermen through the “Kadiwa ng Pangulo,” which builds on the success of the “Kadiwa ng Pasko,” a program the chief executive launched during the Christmas season.
“Noong natapos na ‘yung Pasko, sabi ng mga iba, ipagpatuloy daw namin. Kaya’t ginawa na naming Kadiwa ng Pangulo at pinaparami natin ito sa buong Pilipinas. Hindi lang po rito kung hindi siguro halos 500 na lugar ang ating natayuan ng Kadiwa,” the President said in his speech.
“Lahat ng ahensya ng pamahalaan, lahat ng departamento na kasama sa ganitong klaseng programa ay nagtutunlungan para maging matagumpay ang ating mga programa kagaya nitong Kadiwa,” the President added.
The first Kadiwa ng Pangulo was held on February 27 at the Provincial Capitol Grounds in Cebu City.
The Kadiwa program eliminates several marketing layers, allowing producers to earn bigger from directly selling their produce.
In his speech, the President also noted the several urban agriculture initiatives forwarded by his administration to ensure food security in the country.
“Ang ginagawa natin dahil nagkakaproblema tayo sa bilihin at tumataas ang presyo ay sinasabi natin, bakit hindi ang ating mga kababayan ay sila na ang magtanim para mayroon sila doon sa mga gilid-gilid ng kanilang mga tinitirahan ay magtanim sila ng gulay, maglagay sila ng prutas at mayroon pang ibang kasamang project galing naman DILG na barangay-based,” the President said.
“Itong barangay-based na project ay ‘yung barangay ay mag-identify ng lupa para ‘yun ang tataniman ng mga tiga-barangay na ‘yun. Lahat sila magshe-share sila ngayon doon, paghahati-hatian nila ang mga aanihin nilang gulay at saka prutas para ulit ay mayroon tayo, may suporta ang pamahalaan diyan at bibigyan natin sila ng mga inputs, at kung kailangan turuan, gagawin din natin doon,” Marcos pointed out. (PND)
