With the recent drop of highland vegetable prices in the market affecting hundreds of local farmers, especially in Nueva Vizcaya, the government through the Department of Agriculture has worked with various partner agencies to help the vegetable producers.
Recently, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) issued Memorandum Circular No. 2024-003, or the policy guideline encouraging the local government units to set up their respective 'Kadiwa ng Pangulo' outlets, which will be operational every 15th and 30th of the month starting January 30, 2024.
With this, 10 local government units simultaneously set up their respective Kadiwa centers.
The opening of Kadiwa Center in Tuguegarao City fully supported by regional line agencies nearby the city hall. (Photo courtesy of Tuguegarao City Information Office FB page)
In Tugegarao City, over 20 micro small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs); 4H Club members, Rural Improvement Clubs (RICs), City Agriculture and Fishery Councils, and other cooperatives in the city participated in the one-day event.
Mayor Maila Ting Que led the launching and formal opening of the Kadiwa. She assured farmers of their continued support to help local farmers and to bring fresh and affordable agricultural products nearer to the consumers.
The activity was joined by various agency representatives that are signatories of the agreement like the Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Interior and Local Government, Presidential Management Staff, and Presidential Communications Office, with other neighboring regional line agencies at the regional government center, barangay officials and residents, and government employees.
The mayor also said the program can even be expanded up to three days for longer market days.
Dried aquatic products of Aparri fisherfolk are the most sellable display during the launching of the Kadiwa center.
In Aparri, Cagayan, Mayor Bryan Dale Chan also led the formal launching of the 'Kadiwa ng Pangulo' with DA, DTI, and BFAR, which was participated in by 21 cooperatives and civil society organizations.
All barangay captains in the 42 barangays of Aparri also presented their resolutions of support for the said program.
Chan said this will provide an opportunity for local farmers and fisherfolk to bring to the public their products at an affordable price so that everybody can have a taste of Aparri’s products and other produce of the region.
The ‘aramang’, one of the best aquatic-based products of Aparri, took center stage during the launching as well as other dried fish, which are abundant in the town.
DTI Assistant Regional Director Winston Singun said most of the exhibitors are DTI-assisted MSMEs as well as their partners agencies which means they are now penetrating bigger markets for their products.
Meanwhile, DA Regional Executive Director Rose Mary Aquino expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support of the 10 LGUs in the region namely the provincial governments of Cagayan; Nueva Vizcaya, Batanes, the city government of Tuguegarao, and the municipal governments of Mahatao, Aparri, Aglipay, Palanan, Quezon, and Villaverde.
Recently, the Cagayan Seed Producers Multi-Purpose Cooperative launched its first Kadiwa store in San Gabriel, Tuguegarao City to serve as a permanent establishment for fresh and processed agricultural commodities such as rice, fruits, vegetables, dried fish, and processed products of different farmer cooperatives and associations. It is open daily from 5 am to 6 pm.
The project was made possible in partnership with DA Regional Field Office No. 02 through the Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division.
With these government initiatives, farmers found allies for wider market access in the communities. (OTB/GVB/PIA-2)
