QUEZON CITY, (PIA) – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. witnessed on Monday, July 17, the ceremonial signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) that has established the localization of the flagship farm-to-consumer program Kadiwa ng Pangulo (KNP).
“Dito sa MOA na ito talagang pinaghahatian ng local government at saka national government ito. Hindi kayang gawin ng national government na maikalat lahat ng ating gustong ipadala na mga murang pagkain kung hindi ating kasama at ka-partner ang local government (In this MOA, the local and national government coexists. The national government cannot extend affordable food products nationwide without the help of the local government),” said President Marcos Jr. during the signing ceremony at the Provincial Capitol of Pampanga.
(President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. witnesses the ceremonial signing of the MOA that seeks to institutionalize the Kadiwa ng Pangulo program together with DA Senior Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban, DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian, DTI Secretary Alfredo Pascual, DOLE Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma, DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos, and PCO Secretary Cheloy Garafil/Presidential Communications Office)
Under the agreement, various KNP outlets will be made available throughout the country to further provide farmers and other local producers with a direct selling venue where consumers can access agri-fishery products at affordable prices.
The signing was supported with the simultaneous operation of KNP outlets across the different local government units which share the same thrust of thriving the industry of the micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) sector by removing the market layers or intermediaries that affect the income security of local producers in the trading cycle.
In the city government of Valenzuela, about 28 local businesses were able to offer their food and non-food products at the local Kadiwa caravan in Barangay Maysan 3S Center. Participating enterprises include Gardenia, Rastacraf, Vaga Coffee, Km 14 Gastro Garage, Jasmin Dessert Shop, El Biko Kakanin, Golden Hands, and Kyla’s Amazing Soybeans Company.
Some beneficiaries of the Disiplina Village Livelihood Programs were also given the opportunity to showcase their handmade crafts, particularly floor rugs.
One of the merchants at the Kadiwa ng Pangulo Caravan in Barangay Maysan 3S Center/Valenzuela PIO)
The said initiative was replicated in the local governments of Caloocan, Malabon, and Navotas wherein locally produced products ranging from agricultural and fishery commodities to frozen goods and other necessities were made accessible in a Kadiwa store.
One of the merchants at the Kadiwa ng Pangulo Caravan in Caloocan City Hall-South/Mayor Along Malapitan)
One of the merchants at the Kadiwa ng Pangulo Caravan in Baritan Sports Complex/Malabon PIO)
Navotas City Mayor visits the Kadiwa ng Pangulo Caravan in Navotas Central Park/Navotas PIO)
The KNP employs a whole-of-government approach in terms of ensuring food security, facilitating job generation, and expediting poverty reduction.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) was designated as the lead convenor of the KNP operations alongside the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) as co-convenors.
Other MOA signatories include the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Presidential Communications Office (PCO), and the Presidential Management Staff (PMS).
The KNP operations are set to be conducted every 15th and 30th of the month. (PIA-NCR)
