Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin ‘Benhur’ Abalos Jr. has urged local government units (LGUs) to support the creation of additional Kadiwa Centers in their localities to boost food security and uplift the agricultural industry in the country.
He explained that expanding the ‘Kadiwa Ng Pangulo (KNP)’ program is a testament to the government’s continuing commitment to help the workers and stakeholders in the country’s agricultural sector.
Abalos also called on the governors and mayors to maintain and extend the KNP program not only in the municipal and city levels but also down to the grassroots particularly in the barangays where they can be reached conveniently by the impoverished members of the society.
“Kadiwa is a market linkage facilitation program aimed at making agri-products and other basic commodities accessible and affordable to the poor. It also seeks to establish an additional market for farmers and fisherfolks to directly sell their products and increase their income,’’ the DILG said.
On Monday, July 17, President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos, Jr. led the nationwide launching of “Kadiwa ng Pangulo”, a direct marketing platform for farm producers and small business owners at the provincial capitol grounds in the City of San Fernando, Pampanga.
The launching was formalized through the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with national government agencies, including the DILG, to assist the LGUs and facilitate the establishment of Kadiwa Centers in their respective localities.
Marcos, who concurrently sits Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary, said the MOA signing is part of his government’s whole-of-nation approach to strengthening the agriculture sector to aid the country’s economic recovery.
The President stated that the concerted efforts of the national government, LGUs and government agencies will serve the program’s purpose, assuring the enhancement of the country’s agricultural production.
“All 82 provinces in the country and 16 LGUs of the National Capital Region (NCR) participated in the nationwide simultaneous grand launching of the KNP, while Cabinet members from the DA, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Presidential Management Staff (PMS) and Presidential Communications Office (PCO), also attended the event,’’ the DILG noted.