The Department of Agriculture (DA) is encouraging vegetable suppliers and producers in the country to donate excess vegetables to their local community pantries instead of watching them spoil.
DA Assistant Secretary Noel Reyes said in a virtual press conference Thursday, April 22 that another option would be for the suppliers to donate the surplus produce to the agency’s own community food drive dubbed KADIWA.
“Kami ay nananawagan din sa inyo pong may mga surplus production na bago mabulok ay ipamigay na ho natin sa KADIWA community pantry (We are urging those who have surplus production to donate them to our KADIWA community pantry before they are spoiled),” said Reyes, who serves as DA spokesman.
“’Pag may sobra at gusto mamigay, bakit hindi, welcome na welcome po iyan (If there is a surplus and they are those willing to give them away, why not, we welcome it),” he added.
Agriculture Secretary William Dar has also directed the agency’s marketing arm to look for ways to help the various community pantries that have sprouted in the regions, Reyes bared.
“The secretary said if there is a surplus in production, the DA welcomes it through our KADIWA system. He is also hoping that other regions would follow suit,” he said.
The DA earlier said that fish could be donated by Filipinos to the community pantries, especially now that fish supply and prices have stabilized.