July 31, 2023

As part of the celebration of National Nutrition Month, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) hosted the Kadiwa ng Pangulo (KNP) in the DILG Central Office on Friday, bringing low-cost agricultural products and other products of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to employees of the DILG and the National Police Commission in Quezon City.

DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos said the Department is one of the first national government agencies that hosted the KNP on its premises. He said conducting KNP in DILG premises will allow Department employees to buy low-cost and fresh goods straight from the producers since they, like the others, should also benefit from this good program of the President and are not exempt from rising food costs.

“We are planning to hold this activity monthly and as the Christmas season approaches, we will do it twice a month,” Abalos said.

The DILG Secretary said the project is already being implemented in the local government units, where KNP market days are set on the 15th and 30th days of each month.

He said local governments provide for free the site for the activity, for example, a basketball court or the provincial capitol or municipal hall. The Department of Agriculture (DA) brings the farmers and their produce, and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) takes care of the products of SMEs.

“Only Philippine products are sold so each LGU can promote the fruits and vegetables that are grown in their locality as well as their local dry goods,” he said.

In addition to fruits and vegetables, ready-to-eat food and processed meat were sold at the eighth floor of the DILG Central Office as well as organic fruit juices and concentrates. SMEs sold bags and apparel and leather goods like wallets, belts, and shoes.

On the other hand, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) showcased its livelihood assistance projects, while the National Nutrition Council and the Cooperative Development Authority promoted proper diet and cooperative participation.

Meanwhile, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) will pay the wages of those who transported the products and the builders of the stalls under its Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) Program.

Launched and spearheaded by the DA in 2019, in collaboration with the DILG and the Food Terminal Inc. (FTI), KNP is a program of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. which seeks to empower the farming community by providing a direct and effective farm-to-consumer food supply chain. It also gives farmers, fisherfolks as well as micro-SMEs rent-free venues to sell their produce and increase their income.

In his second State of the Nation Address, the President said “The Kadiwa system enabled the public to buy goods at cheaper rates and the farmers to sell their crops without having to worry about transportation costs.”

Original Article at: https://dilg.gov.ph/news/DILG-brings-low-cost-agri-SME-products-to-Central-Office-employees-through-Kadiwa-ng-Pangulo/NC-2023-1128