Marcos: Kadiwa stalls to stay, expand to cope with food crisis, commodity price hikes

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday said his administration would continue expanding “Kadiwa” outlets in the country in response to the food crisis and high prices of goods.

The Kadiwa project started as the “Kadiwa ng Pasko” during the Christmas season but was expanded to “Kadiwa ng Pangulo” to further provide consumers with fresh and affordable agricultural and fishery products.

“Patuloy naming gagawin ito, padadamihin, palalakihin natin, pararamihin natin. Mas importante paramihin natin lalo na sa mga lugar na hirap ang tao. Hindi pa kaya ang presyuhan kung nasa palengke,” Marcos said in his speech during the launch of “Kadiwa ng Pangulo” in Cebu.

(We will continue and expand this. We must expand this, especially in places where prices of goods are still high, especially in the markets.)

Apart from helping Filipinos cope with the effects of high prices of commodities, the Kadiwa project also aimed to support local farmers, fishermen, and small enterprises, Marcos said.

The Kadiwa program allows the public to buy goods at cheaper rates by creating a direct and efficient farm-to-consumer food supply chain, eliminating intermediaries.

Marcos said that more than 500 Kadiwa stores were already launched nationwide. He then revealed that the Department of Labor and Employment is also eyeing a “Kadiwa para sa Manggagawa (workers).”

“Ito na ang aming sagot doon sa nagiging krisis dito sa ating pagkain sa ating pagtaas ng presyo,” he said.

(This is our answer to our food crisis and the high prices of goods.)

Malacañang says at least 50 exhibitors participate in the two-day Kadiwa caravan in Cebu City. Consumers can buy rice for as low as P25 per kilo and onion at P190 per kilo.

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KGA/abc