Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary “Benhur’’ Abalos Jr. prodded the public to take advantage of the P39 per kilo rice and other highly discounted quality produce being offered at the “Super Kadiwa’’ stores in Metro Manila.

Malaking katipiran po ito para sa ating mga kababayan sa Metro Manila dahil sa halagang P39.00 lamang ay makakabilika na ng isang kilong bigas (This is a huge discount for our countrymen in Metro Manila because at the price of only P39.00, one kilo of rice can be purchased),’’ Abalos said.

With these highly-discounted offers, Abalos invited the public to support the “Super Kadiwa’’ project to help local farmers.

The DILG explained that “Super Kadiwa’ is a limited offering of the Kadiwa ng Pangulo, started in April this year and will open until the end of June in various local government units (LGUs) in the National Capital Region (NCR).’’

“Kadiwa ng Pangulo is a market linkage facilitation program aimed at making agri-products and other basic commodities accessible and affordable to the poor,’’ it added.

The DILG explained that the program seeks to establish an additional market for farmers and fisherfolks to directly sell their products and increase their income, while also bringing down the prices of food commodities in the market as the concept eliminates the role of middlemen.

“‘Super Kadiwa’ platforms were opened last April 15-16 in San Antonio, Parañaque City; Central, Quezon City; Tunasan, Muntinlupa City; Addition Hills, Mandaluyong City; San Juan City Hall; Pamplona Tres, Las Piñas City; Santo Tomas, Pasig City; Caloocan City Hall; Navotas City Hall; Poblacion, Pateros; and, Dulong Bayan, City of San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan. The same were also launched at Employee’s Park, Taguig City Hall; People’s Park, Malinta, Valenzuela City; Manila City Hall, Inner Court, Antonio Villegas St., Ermita on April 16-17, 2024,’’ the DILG noted.

Abalos said the “Super Kadiwa’’ store project was organized by the Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the DILG.

The DILG chief stated that the centerpiece product in the “Super Kadiwa’’ stores is rice “that sells for as low as P39 per kilo which is way cheaper than those being sold in the mainstream markets.’’

“Kadiwa is a good platform for our local farmers to market their products but more than that, it is a venue for us to show our support by purchasing their produce na matagal nilang pinaghirapang itanim (that they worked hard for a long time to plant),’’ Abalos stressed.

Abalos also assured that the ‘Super Kadiwa’ will soon be staged in other parts of the country giving more Filipinos access to a cheaper-priced rice brand.