As part of the agenda of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to make food accessible and affordable to all Filipinos, the Department of Agriculture (DA) plans to install accredited KADIWA retail stores in select Metro Manila dry and wet markets within the first quarter of 2023.
The said plan, bared by DA Assistant Secretary for Consumer Affairs and Spokesperson Kristine Y. Evangelista, is expected to ensure food availability in the metro while also addressing the ballooning prices of agricultural commodities in its local markets.
“Isa sa mga tinitingnan natin ngayon ang pagkakaroon ng accredited KADIWA retailers sa loob mismo ng mga palengke para po magkaroon ng access ang ating mga kababayan sa mas murang agricultural commodities— lalo na’t ngayon na mayroon naman tayong mga na-identify na cooperatives na handa na na mag-supply sa palengke. So in the event na mayroong hesitation ang ating retailers sa palengke, at least ito po ay pamamaraan na rin para mahikayat sila na mag-shift ng supplier kasi ang ating objective is mapababa talaga ang presyo sa palengke,” Asec. Evanglista explained in an interview to the media on February 10.
The KADIWA is an initiative of the DA that is programmed to ensure the availability and affordability of food in areas with high demand and in communities with low-income families. Farmers cooperatives and associations, members of the private sector, and other agricultural stakeholders were tapped to implement a direct and effective food supply distribution system throughout the country.
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and its impacts to food trade and mobilization, the DA launched the Enhanced KADIWA Program in order to stabilize local supply and prices of food and other basic commodities as per DA Memorandum Order No. 6, s. 2020.
The DA Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service (AMAS), the office in charge of processing applications for KADIWA accreditations, reported a total of 308 KADIWA stores, pop-up stores, and KADIWA-on-Wheels nationwide, to date.
Interested outlets and stores may apply as KADIWA-accredited retailers by submitting a letter of intent addressed to the AMAS Director or the DA Regional Field Office – Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD) Chief, along with the location and/or sketch plan of the store. A site inspection will be conducted by the AMAS or AMAD to determine their suitability as a KADIWA accredited retailer.
KADIWA outlets will be connected to farmer cooperatives, in line with the marketing linkage initiative of the DA under the administration of President Marcos. ### (Krystelle Ymari, Vergara, DA-AFID)
