The Department of Agriculture (DA) said it is planning to put Kadiwa retail stores in select Metro Manila wet and dry markets within the first quarter of 2023 in a bid to make affordable foods accessible to all Filipinos.

This was disclosed by Agriculture Assistant Secretary for Consumer Affairs and Spokesperson Kristine Y. Evangelista to the media, adding that such a move will “ensure food availability in the metro while also addressing the rising prices of agricultural commodities” in its local markets.

“Isa sa mga tinitingnan natin ngayon ang pagkakaroon ng accredited Kadiwa retailers sa loob mismo ng mga palengke para po magkaroon ng access ang ating mga kababayan sa mas murang agricultural commodities— lalo na’t ngayon na mayroon naman tayong mga na-identify na cooperatives na handa na na mag-supply sa palengke. So in the event na mayroong hesitation ang ating retailers sa palengke, at least ito po ay pamamaraan na rin para mahikayat sila na mag-shift ng supplier kasi ang ating objective is mapababa talaga ang presyo sa palengke (One of the things we are looking at right now is having accredited Kadiwa retailers within the markets so that our countrymen can have access to cheaper agricultural commodities— especially now that we have identified cooperatives that are ready to supply the market. So in the event that our retailers have hesitation in the market, at least this is a method to encourage them to shift suppliers because our objective is to really lower the price in the market),” she said.

Interested outlets and stores, according to the DA, may apply to become Kadiwa-accredited retailers by submitting a letter of intent to the AMAS Director or the DA Regional Field Office - Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD) Chief, as well as the store's location and/or sketch plan.

“A site inspection will be conducted by the AMAS or AMAD to determine their suitability as a Kadiwa accredited retailer,” the agriculture department noted.

The Kadiwa is a DA initiative designed to ensure the availability and affordability of food in high-demand areas and communities with low-income families.

The agriculture department noted that farmer cooperatives and associations, members of the private sector, and other agricultural stakeholders were tapped to implement a direct and effective food supply distribution system throughout the country.

The DA launched the Enhanced Kadiwa Program to stabilize local supply and prices of food and other basic commodities amid the adverse effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, especially on food trade and mobilization.

To date, the DA Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service (AMAS), the office in charge of processing Kadiwa accreditation applications, reported a total of 308 Kadiwa stores, pop-up stores, and Kadiwa-on-Wheels across the country.