President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. said that establishing Kadiwa ng Pangulo stores across the country is the government's way to address the food crisis in the Philippines and the rising prices of goods in the market.

Marcos said this as he led the launch of the Kadiwa ng Pangulo in Cebu City on Monday, Feb. 27.

In his speech, the President vowed to add more Kadiwa stores nationwide to help consumers find cheaper products. He said there were already over 500 Kadiwa stores in the Philippines.

"Para makapagbigay tayo ng pagkakataon sa ating mga consumer na makakita naman ng affordable-- na kaya ang presyuhan (So that we can give the consumers the chance to find affordable products-- rates they can afford)," he said.

"Patuloy naming gagawin ito, pararamihin natin, palalakihin natin. Mas importante ay paramihin lalo na sa mga lugar na talagang hirap ang tao at hindi pa kaya ang mga presyuhan kung nasa palengke (We'll continue to do this and grow this. It's important to add more stores in areas where the people can't afford the prices of goods in the market)," he added.

According to Marcos, the Kadiwa stores were the government's response to what he called a "food crisis."

"Ito na ang aming sagot doon sa nagiging krisis dito sa ating pagkain, sa ating pagtaas ng presyo (This is our answer to the crisis in food-- the increasing prices of goods)," he said.

"Ipagpatuloy pa natin ito para naman ang ating mga kababayan ay hindi na masyadong naghihirap, at dahan-dahan mararamdaman tayo (We will continue this so the people will feel less burden and they'll feel our presence)," he added.

The Kadiwa ng Pangulo aims to reach more provinces and localities nationwide to help local farmers earn more through a direct farm-to-consumer food supply chain, eliminating several marketing layers and providing communities with affordable, high-quality products countering the effects of global inflation.

It also seeks to strengthen the agriculture sector to increase the production of crops that will result in sufficient supply to attain food and nutritional security for all Filipinos.

During the event. President Marcos checked the products and goods sold at lower prices, such as NFA rice for P25 per kilo, red onions for P200 per kilo, and garlic for P90 per kilo.

A total of 51 sellers participated in the launch, including farmer groups and cooperatives, micro and small enterprises (MSEs) from the Department of Agriculture (DA) Region 7, fisherfolk cooperatives from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Region 7, various associations from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Region 7, several businesses brought in by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) – Cebu Provincial Office, and other sellers from the National Food Authority (NFA) Region 7, National Dairy Authority – Visayas and the local government units (LGUs) of Cebu Province, Bantayan Island, and Cebu City.