July 18, 2023

President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., on Monday morning, 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 Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), to assist local government units (LGUs) and facilitate the establishment of Kadiwa centers in their respective localities.

Marcos, who concurrently sits as Secretary of the Department of Agriculture (DA), 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.

“Ito’y isa na namang magandang halimbawa na kapag nagtutulungan ang bawat sangay ng gobyerno, ang national government at local government units, ay talagang makakatulong (tayo) at magiging matagumpay ang ating mga ginagawang programa. Kaya asahan pa po ninyo na palalakasan natin ang ating produksyon ng agriculture products,” the President said.

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.

In his opening message, DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos said expanding the KNP program across the country indicates the steadfast commitment of the government to help workers in the agriculture sector and ensure food security.

“Nananawagan tayo sa lahat ng gobernador at mayors, panatilihin at paramihin pa natin ang ating mga Kadiwa Centers. At sana’y hindi lamang ito maitayo sa ating mga munisipiyo at City Hall, kundi maging sa ating mga barangays upang mas marami tayong maabot na kababayan,” Abalos said.

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.

Original Article at: https://dilg.gov.ph/news/PBBM-leads-nationwide-launch-of-Kadiwa-ng-Pangulo-DILG-other-govt-agencies-team-up-for-more-Kadiwa-Centers/NC-2023-1121