The Department of Agriculture (DA) is forging stronger ties with the local government units (LGUs) to ensure that households affected by the enhanced community quarantine will have access to the food supply.

Under the DA’s proposed Distribution and Marketing System, a two-mode KADIWA ni Ani at Kita will soon roll out, where DA will find suppliers to the food requirements of the residents of areas affected by the imposed Luzon-wide quarantine.

Assistant Secretary Kristine Evangelista explained that the initiative aims to provide cities and municipalities food supplies, based on the specific food requirement and volume as identified by the LGUs.

The DA, as the agency mandated to ensure sufficient supply and efficient delivery of food items, will find a source for different agri-fishery products and link it with the LGUs.  Once an agreement is made, the two parties will undertake the new KADIWA distribution scheme.

Under mode 1, DA will facilitate the linkage of LGUs to food producers, as well as the delivery of identified products. The LGUs, for their part, will sort and pack the items, and deliver to the households

Under mode 2, DA will facilitate the LGU-producers’ linkage and delivery of items to identified drop-off points including the Bureau of Plant Industry in Malate, Manila, Food Terminal Inc. in Taguig City and the DA Central Office in Quezon City. The LGUs will then pick-up the items from the said drop-off points, then deliver to the consumers after sorting and packing.

Evangelista added that the LGUs will have the option to deliver the food items through an order system, meaning there will be little interaction between the LGUs and the consumers.

“This strategy will minimize human interaction and the possibility of spreading the corona virus,” she added. ### (Adora D. Rodriguez, DA-AFID)

Reference:
Kristine Evangelista
Assistant Secretary for Agribusiness and Marketing
09776987971