60 Kadiwa ng Pangulo stores available nationwide in September

FILE: KADIWA NG PANGULO. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. inspects food and agricultural products at the Kadiwa ng Pangulo at the Palestina Covered Court in Pili town, Camarines Sur province on Thursday (March 16, 2023). (PNA photo Alfred Frias)

By Stephanie Sevillano, Philippine News Agency

MANILA – The Department of Agriculture (DA) said Monday it is targeting to have 60 Kadiwa ng Pangulo stores available nationwide in September in line with the directives of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to realize food security and affordability under his term.

In a statement, DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the administration’s targets include expanding Kadiwa sites in Visayas and Mindanao.

“We expect to have at least 60 Kadiwa ng Pangulo stores across the country next month to provide more Filipinos with greater access to affordably-priced agricultural products, including the PHP29 per kilo rice intended for vulnerable sectors,” he said.

The P29 program or the sale of aging but good quality rice stocks from the National Food Authority (NFA) worth PHP29 per kilogram is targeted at the vulnerable sector including members of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino (4Ps), persons with disabilities (PWD), senior citizens, and solo parents.

Besides accessibility to cheaper agricultural commodities, Tiu Laurel said they were also coordinating with some food manufacturers to supply other goods like cooking oil, fresh fish, and poultry products, among others.

“We’re also talking to manufacturers of other basic goods like condiments, sugar, and canned goods to help ease the financial challenges of Filipinos and actualize President Marcos’ vision to provide every Filipino family with affordably-priced food on their table,” he added.

Overall, the DA said it was out to standardize operations in 1,500 targeted Kadiwa stores in each municipality nationwide, with the eyed partnership with the country’s farmers’ cooperatives and associations.

Tiu Laurel earlier said there were 17 regularly operating and 230 irregular Kadiwa stores.

Regular Kadiwa sites include stores in the Bureau of Animal Industry Dome and National Irrigation Administration (NIA) in Quezon City; Bureau of Plant Industry in Malate, Manila; Food Terminal, Inc. in Taguig City; Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority in Las Piñas; Bayani Fernando Central Terminal and Barangay Fortune in Marikina; and those in Llano, Caloocan; Valenzuela; Pantao Fisherfolks Consumer Cooperative in Malabon; Navotas Institute in Navotas; San Jose del Monte, Bulacan; Antipolo City; Bacoor, Cavite; and San Pedro City Hall and Santa Rosa, Laguna, which operate every Thursday to Saturday.