ANTIQUE – The provincial government of Antique and relevant national government agencies (NGAs) officially launched this year’s series of “Kadiwa ng Pangulo.”
The Kadiwa ng Pangulo, or the Katuwang sa Diwa at Gawa para sa Masaganang Ani at Mataas na Kita (KADIWA) ng Pangulo, is a marketing initiative that seeks to provide farmers, fishers, and small business owners with additional avenue to sell their farm output and products.
It also intends to give consumers access to fresh and quality yet more affordable goods and commodities, especially amid the severe effects of the El Niño phenomenon on the agriculture, fisheries, and aquaculture sectors.
The first Kadiwa ng Pangulo event this 2024 was held from April 29 to May 3 in Antique, while the succeeding events will be implemented every month beginning June through December 2024 at the New Capitol Grounds in San Jose de Buenavista town.
Other Kadiwa events are scheduled on the following dates: June 10 to 14, July 14 to 18, August 11 to 15, September 15 to 18, October 13 to 17, November 17 to 21, and December 2 to 6.
Some of the agricultural products available at the Kadiwa are well-milled rice, eggs, onion, garlic, tomatoes, banana, other fruits and vegetables, native delicacies, dairy goods, and locally-made handicrafts which may be availed of at a lower cost compared to regular market prices.
This month’s Kadiwa was participated in by some 36 exhibitors composed of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and farmers’ cooperatives such as the Kamapat Agriculture Cooperative of Patnongon town.
Kamapat Chairman Henry Michael Gonzalo C. Doliguez expressed excitement to join anew the Kadiwa ng Pangulo, saying that this is an opportunity for their cooperative to help fellow Antiqueños purchase quality products with a limited budget.
Among other agricultural produce, Kamapat Cooperative sells well-milled rice at only P55 pesos per kilo compared to the regular market value of P60-62 per kilo.
Amid the continuing El Niño phenomenon, Doliguez lauded the Department of Agriculture (DA) In her message, Gov. Rhodora J. Cadiao thanked President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. for bringing the market linkage facilitation program to Antique which is of great help to Antiqueños suffering from the effects of the extreme dry condition.
The Kadiwa ng Pangulo in Antique is a shared initiative among the Office of the President, DA, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), National Food Authority (NFA), and the Provincial Government of Antique. (Philippine Information Agency)
