The signing of memorandum of understanding between the Department of Agriculture and PHLPost (Dexter Barro II/MANILA BULLETIN)

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is partnering with the Philippine Postal Corp. (PHLPost) to bring the Kadiwa ng Pangulo (KNP) program to post offices nationwide, providing wider access to affordable goods.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel formalized this partnership through the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with PHLPost Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Luis Carlos on Thursday, April 3.

In his speech, Laurel said this agreement is a vital milestone for cooperation between government agencies in pursuit of boosting food security and helping improve the lives of consumers.

“This reminds us that when institutions come together with a shared purpose, they can break barriers and create meaningful change,” he said.

Under the MOU, 61 stores will be opened across various post offices this year, alongside the six pop-up stores launched last year.

Carlos, for his part, credited the pop-up stores for benefitting postal workers and nearby communities.

With 1,100 post offices in the country, he said there is a potential that these establishments would eventually host KNP stores as well.

KNP, established under the Marcos administration, is part of the government’s efforts to provide farmers and fishermen direct access to venues where they can sell their produce straight to consumers.

By removing the so-called middlemen, farmers and fishermen can directly profit from their goods while enabling consumers to purchase goods at lower prices.

The Rice-for-All (RFA) program is a key component of KNP, which sells rice for as low as ₱33 per kilo. This is alongside rice priced at ₱29 per kilo, only available to the country's vulnerable sectors.

Based on the agreement, the DA will provide technical and administrative support for the operation, establishment, and monitoring of KNP stores in post offices.

The agency will ensure that the commodities sold at these stores meet food safety standards and that logistics, such as delivery and storage, are well managed.

It stressed that store operations do not interfere with PHLPost’s core mandate of operating a nationwide postal system.

Meanwhile, PHLPost has committed to offering physical spaces in identified post offices for KNP, as well as assisting in the promotion and marketing of the program.

The postal service will also provide suppliers with essential equipment, including tables, chairs, and tents, to ensure smooth operations.