President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has vowed to establish more ‘Kadiwa ng Pangulo’ centers in the country to help local producers earn a higher income by eliminating intermediaries and, at the same time, allow consumers to buy agricultural products and other goods at a lower price.
The President made this remark in an interview with broadcaster and former Social Welfare Secretary Erwin Tulfo on Monday.
“Ang aming ginagawa sa Kadiwa [ay] talagang pinaparami natin ‘yan. Ang nangyayari ay kailangan na rin talaga nating bantayan ‘yung supply ng mga agricultural commodities dahil kinukuha nga natin lahat nung mga mura, dinadaan natin sa Kadiwa. Eh very popular sa tao, siyempre at mas maganda talaga ang presyo kaysa sa ibang lugar,” President Marcos pointed out.
While the goal is to reduce the price of rice to PHP20 per kilo, the President said the government has stepped up efforts to improve the supply chain efficiency and make food and other essential commodities affordable, especially in the provinces.
“Hindi pa tapos ‘yung pag-aayos natin ng Department of Agriculture. Ngunit, dahan-dahan alam na namin ‘yung kailangan natin gawin. Alam na natin kung saan ‘yung matibay ang sistema, kung saan ‘yung medyo mahinang sistema, kung saan puwede talagang… kailangan talagang tulungan, ‘yun ang aming mga tinitingnan ngayon,” the President said.
“Kaya’t siguro naman ‘yung PHP20, siguro down the road mapapaabot natin ‘yan. Ngunit mas mahalaga kaysa…‘yung mga specific na produkto ay makaabot ang Kadiwa sa maraming lugar,” the chief exceutive stressed.
President Marcos said the long-term plan is to lower prices of goods not just by expanding ‘Kadiwa ng Pangulo’ outlets across the country but by making them affordable in local markets.
“Kasi lagi natin kung minsan, nakakalimutan natin, lagi natin iniisip pataasin‘yung production. Kailangan din, sabi ko, huwag niyong kakalimutan na maganda ang kinikita ng magsasaka. Kaya natin ginagawa ito para may magandang hanapbuhay ang mga nagsasaka,” the President said.
“Kaya’t ‘yun, dahan-dahan ay pinapaganda natin at sana… darating [ang] oras na hindi lang tayo sa Kadiwa nakakaramdam ng mababang presyo kung hindi sa lahat na ng mga palengke, dahil marami na tayong supply, marami na tayong produksyon. Hindi na tayo umaasa sa importation lamang,” the President added.
Kadiwa is a market linkage facilitation program of the DA aimed at making products such as rice, fish, poultry and livestock, fruits and vegetables, and other basic commodities accessible and affordable to the poor.
Kadiwa centers, now numbering 300 nationwide, also seek to establish an additional market for small farmers and fisherfolk to sell their products and increase their income, as well as ensure a stable price and supply of food and other basic commodities in areas where poor families live.
Initially launched as Kadiwa ng Pasko, the program was rebranded as the Kadiwa ng Pangulo, with the first outlet launched last February 27 in Cebu City. (PND)
