NCR mayors urged to support agri products one-stop shop this Christmas
By Chito Chavez
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin ‘Benhur’ Abalos Jr. urged local government units in Metro Manila to support the Katuwang sa Diwa at Gawa para sa Masaganang Ani at Mataas na Kita (KADIWA) sa Pasko 2022 which would enable the public to buy goods at cheaper rates and assist the farmers sell their crops without having to worry about transportation costs.
Abalos issued Memorandum Circular No. 2022-140 to entice the concerned local government units (LGUs) to set-up ‘KADIWA sa Pasko’’ initiatives in their respective areas to support the farmers to sell their agri-products, facilitate product regional exchange of ‘One Town, One Product (OTOP)’ products and to provide opportunity for local micro-entrepreneurs to market their products.
The program also aims to provide market opportunities to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) through local product promotion and eliminating as many marketing layers that allows the producers to warm more by directly selling their wares to the end consumers without the intervention of trading intermediaries.
With the promotional scheme, the public spending is expected to soar in the holiday season thereby jumpstarting and reviving the local economy.
Launched and spearheaded by the Department of Agriculture (DA) in collaboration with the DILG and the Food Terminal Inc. (FTI) in 2018, KADIWA is a marketing ploy which seeks to empower the farming community by providing a direct and efficient farm-to-consumer food supply chain.
Abalos has set up guidelines and scope of work that covers the mayors, DILG Regional and City Directors, DILG field officers and other concerned National Capital Region (NCR) personnel.
The MC states that the KADIWA sa Pasko 2022 shall run every Saturday and Sunday in the months of Nov. and Dec. with three market areas or product clusters located in closed venues or open spaces provided that there are available tents, tables and chairs.
It also requires the venue to be well-ventilated and with spaces that can accommodate stalls for selling the products and area for eating and parking.
“No registration fee shall be collected from the participating farmer/MSME merchants nor from visiting consumers,’’ the MC noted. (Chito A. Chavez)