PALESTINA, PILI, Camarines Sur (PIA) – Thirty-eight (38) exhibitors joined the nationwide roll out of Kadiwa ng Pangulo (KNP) at the Palestina Covered court on Monday, July 17 and generated P229,988 sales after the whole-day event.

Hosted by the provincial government of Camarines Sur under the stewardship of Governor Luigi Villafuerte, the roll out of the nationwide implementation of KNP was in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture (DA) as the lead convenor and supported by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

KNP Focal Person Dr. Maria Christina Campita said that during PBBM’s visit last March, KNP Camarines Sur registered the highest gross sales at P1.2M nationwide.

“Tayo po ang may highest gross sales nationwide at 1.2M yong unang pagbisita ni PBBM. So far, ang mga mamimili naman po ay masaya na nakakabili sila ng mga agricultural products and other non-food products na pini-feature hindi lang ng DA, nandito rin ang DTI, DOLE at DSWD,” Campita added.

She furthered that the exhibitors are happy since they can directly sell their produce to the buyers and they don’t have to endure some layers of legal bond like payment for the hauling of their products or having middle men just to deliver their agricultural products.

“May win-win situation po. Nakakabenta ang producers sa murang halaga. Yun namang mga consumers nakakabili sa murang halaga,” Campita said.

One of the exhibitors during the June 17 KNP in Palestina is Tatay Jonathan Isip, 55 years old, a father of two and a native of Buhi, Camarines Sur. He has been joining trade fairs through the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and has been selling “hinabol” or weaved products such as bags, blankets, wallets, t-shirts and other wearables since 2008.  He uses his earnings from trade fairs to send his kids to school, including the daily provision for his family.

He narrated that his first time to participate in the KNP was on March 16 of this year during the regional launch of KNP in the same covered court where he had the honor of meeting President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., in person. 

“First time ko pong umatend sa KNP yong pumunta si PBBM.  Saro po ako sa na invite kan DTI na mag exhibit. Ang sales ko kan unang Kadiwa uminabot nin P20,000.00. Kaya nagpapasalamat po ako sa satuyang presidente, na nakaisp na siring na venue para sa mga MSMEs. Dakulang tabang man sa mga kinapobrehan na makabakal sinda ning de kalidad na produkto sa hababang presyo (My first time to attend the KNP was during the visit of PBBM.  I am one [of the exhibitors] invited by DTI.  I am extremely grateful to our president for creating an avenue for MSMEs. This is also a big help to disadvantaged families since they can buy quality products at affordable prices),” Tatay Jonathan stated.

Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Regional Director Ma. Zenaida Angara-Campita said that all farmers and vendors will be paid a day’s wages for their participation in the KNP event which was simultaneously held in all provinces of the region.

“For this Kadiwa sa buong Bicol, tin-reat namin na yung mga farmers po dahil mag i-spend sila ng araw at oras dito sa halip na nasa bukid, yung lahat po ng sellers ay  acparang TUPAD-type employment. Papaswelduhin namin sila sa loob ng dalawang araw. So yun po ang aming main participation plus, kung may mga invited beneficiaries nung aming livelihood projects, nakadisplay po yung mga produkto nila at kasama po sila sa parang TUPAD-type sellers,” RD Campita stated.

 For a 2-day work, which includes the ingress of the farmers and MSMEs to the actual day of the selling during the KNP and going back to their areas, they will receive P730.00 each.    

Campita added that for this year, Bicol received the highest TUPAD fund next to funded livelihood programs. 

As the host province, the provincial government of Camarines Sur provided the LED wall at the venue and ensured the clear live feed of the KNP event in Pili to Malacañang.  PNP personnel were also dispatched at the venue to ensure the safety and security of all the participants.

The KNP is President Marcos’ campaign to ensure food security and promote sustainable agricultural practices. This also encourages inter-agency collaboration in assisting various sectors of the society to avail of quality food at affordable price.

It is a market linkage facilitation program that enables farmers to have a direct market and get rid of market layers that add up to their burden as production costs.

“The simultaneous nationwide roll out of KNP aims to strengthen the Kadiwa activities and ensure expansion of national programs in the entire country. It also endeavors to provide access to consumers with fresh and affordable agricultural and fishery commodities and provide a ready venue for selling of locally-produced agri-fishery products,” DA KNP Focal Person Dr. Campita said.  (PIA 5/ Camarines Sur)