CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro (PIA) -- In an effort to provide quality agricultural products at a lower cost while helping farmers and producers, the launch of the National Irrigation Administration's ‘Kadiwa ng Pangulo’ in Occidental Mindoro has been met with resounding success, creating a transformative impact on the local farming community and in the province as a whole.

On its first day, the Kadiwa generated P230,000 in sales from sale produce coming from various irrigator associations in the province. Another highlight of the activity was the selling of rice that costs P35.00 per kilogram under the ‘rice for all’ program, of which 630 consumers benefited with a sale of 100 cavans or 5,000 kilos of rice.

The launch was spearheaded by NIA Mimaropa Acting Regional Manager Ronilio M. Cervantes together with Occidental Mindoro Irrigation Management Office (OMIMO) Division Manager Raymundo L. Calusin on October 17  at the San Jose, NIA Compound. Also, part of the organizing team were members of the National Irrigation System (NIS)–Communal Irrigation System Provincial Federation of Irrigators Association.

According to Christine Joy Robles, from the municipality of San Jose, the Kadiwa offers a variety of products at a lower cost, especially rice. According to her, the P35.00 per kilogram price tag is a big help for her and her family, especially now that the prices of rice in the market can go up to P50.00 per kilo.

Meanwhile, Nemesia Oliveros expressed her gratitude towards NIA, “Napakaganda nito para sa aming mahihirap, sa totoo lang po. Kaya maraming salamat sa NIA na nagbibigay ng kaunting kaalwanan lalo na sa bigas at gulay, at sana magkaroon pa ulit [ng Kadiwa sa Pangulo].”

The Kadiwa ng Pangulo program, an integral part of the Philippine government's commitment to supporting farmers and ensuring food security, was introduced to uplift the lives of farmers and enhance agricultural productivity in the region. (JJGS/PIA MIMAROPA)