DUMAGUETE CITY,  Negros Oriental, July 17 (PIA) -- The Department of Agriculture (DA) here helped local farmers showcase and market their products to the public by launching the Kadiwa ng Pangulo today.

The Kadiwa ng Pangulo is a program of Pres. Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr.  to help farmers earn higher income by eliminating the middle men while helping the public gain access farm produce at affordable prices.

“Taas ang makuha sa atong mga mag-uuma in terms of income nila at the same time ang mga (consumer) na naa dire sa siyudad mubo sa ilang mga presyo ilang paliton compared sa mga naa sa market (Our farmers will be able to earn more while the consumers in the city can buy goods at lower prices compared to what is sold in the market). We are cutting the middle man or the traders in this platform,” said DA Provincial Agricultural Program Coordinating Officer (APCO) Alejandro Rafal.

The Kadiwa ng Pangulo in Dumaguete City was set up in front of the Macias Sports Center beside the office of the Philippine National Police Highway Patrol Group.

More than 21 farmers’ association and cooperatives joined the event, together with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) who also brought in some Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprisers (MSMEs) to exhibit their products during the Kadiwa Agri-fair.

Agricultural produce sold during the affair include vegetables, fruits and fruit juices, dairy products, fish and fish products,  herbs, root crops, corn, locally-made vinegar, shrimp pastes, and assorted nuts.

The DA also distributed free vegetable seedlings during the event.

Meanwhile, the National Food Authority (NFA) also sold NFA rice at P25 per kilo at the Kadiwa. 

NFA Negros Oriental Branch Manager Benilda Fidel explained that the agency no longer sells rice to the public pursuant to their new mandate, but they are allowed to sell in this occasion as a show of support to this undertaking.

“For this simultaneous event of Kadiwa ng Pangulo, we sought clearance from our administrator to join with this event right. This is only for one day. We are allowed to sell NFA rice to the public at P25 per kilogram with only a minimum volume of bags,” Fidel said.

Some market-goers expressed appreciation to this initiative.

Timotea Mendac from Valencia town bought rice, eggplants, and other vegetable from farmers during the Kadiwa.

“Ay, barato. Tinuod kay sa palengke P80 man (ang per kilo) ning talong, dire P40. Maayo kaayo sana kada ing-ani (The items are affordable. In the market, the price per kilo of these eggplants are at P80 while it is only sold at P40 here. I hope we have this everyday),” Mendac said.

Another market-goer, Emily Lopez, was also pleased with the price of cucumbers and bitter gourd sold at the Kadiwa. She said these vegetables were sold at P80 per kilo in the market but she bought these at P50 per kilo.

“Tinuod na barato. Ganahan ko (ma-usab ni). Okay kaayo kay makatabang ni sa pobre (Yes, it’s true the prices are affordable. I hope they will continue this initiative. This is a great help for the poor),” Lopez said.

Rafal said the launching of Kadiwa ng Pangulo is just the start and the provincial office of DA will continue to hold additional Kadiwa Agri-Fairs in the future.

Provincial Government’s support to local farmers

Governor Manuel “Chaco” L. Sagarbarria, who was also at the event, congratulated DA for the successful launching of Kadiwa.

“Para nako importante ni na programa ni PBBM. Kay pagpungko gud niya balig usa ka Presidente nihisgot gud siya na iyaha gud mapchadahon kabahin tanan sa agriculture. Kahibalo ko it is his priority project (For me, this is an important program of PBBM. Since he assumed office, he made a commitment to improve the country’s agriculture. I know it is his priority project),” Sagarbarria said.

He also expressed the provincial government’s support to the farmers to increase the agricultural output of the province.

“I am really supporting all agricultural products. Karon daghan mi giplanuhan kabahin sa agriculture, kabahin sa pagdugang sa mga tractors, implements, fertilizers, educational training. Ga-budget gud mi para ang mga batan-on karon mo-eskwela gud og agriculture. We are giving full scholarship to them (We are planning a lot of programs on agriculture to include increased distribution of tractors, implements, fertilizers, and educational training. We have already allocated a budget to encourage the youth study agriculture. We are giving full scholarship to them),” Sagarbarria said. (RAL/PIA7 Negros Oriental)