Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 2) — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. wants the “Kadiwa ng Pasko” project to become a national program through tie-ups with local government units (LGUs) to sustain it even after the holiday season.
“At masasabi ko na kahit pagkatapos na ng New Year ay hindi naman namin ititigil ‘yung Kadiwa ng Pasko,” Marcos said in his remarks during the caravan in Quezon City on Thursday. “Patuloy nang patuloy na ‘yan.”
“Hangga’t maaari ay patuloy ang Kadiwa para maging national program, para lahat ng buong Pilipinas ay makikita naman nila at makakatikim naman sila nung savings doon sa kanilang mga binibili,” he added.
[Translation: I can say that after New Year we won’t stop Kadiwa ng Pasko. It will go on and on. We want Kadiwa to become a national program. So everyone in the Philippines could see and enjoy some savings on their purchases.]
Kadiwa ng Pasko is Marcos’ initiative also as Agriculture secretary which allows farmers, fishers, and microentrepreneurs to sell their products directly to consumers and give Filipinos an alternative amid the rising prices of goods.
The national government relaunched the program early in November amid reports of higher inflation rates.
During the launch, Marcos said he is still confident that rice will eventually be sold for ₱20 per kilogram under his administration, saying the staple sells for ₱25/kg in one of the Kadiwa stores.
Data from the Department of Agriculture in mid-November showed the commodity sells in Metro Manila markets at ₱38-₱50/kg, depending on the variant which was the same price range when Marcos assumed the presidency in June.
In his visit to Quezon City, Marcos also lauded the LGU and said it has been “the government model” in the Kadiwa implementation.
“Kaya kung kakayanin nung sistema ninyo ang Quezon City, eh kakayanin ‘yung mas maliliit,” the president said. “Kaya’t we were looking and seeing ano ‘yung mga kung tawagin ay best practices ay tinitingnan namin para maging mas maganda.”
[Translation: So if Quezon City’s system can do it, the smaller areas could do it as well. Now we’re looking at what they call best practices so we can do better.]
Organizers expect local farmers and fisherfolk to have better income and, at the same time, provide the public access to more affordable and high-quality merchandise through the initiative.
Support agencies for the project include the Department of Trade and Industry, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Department of Labor and Employment.
n a Laging Handa briefing, Department of Agriculture Assistant Secretary Kristine Evangelista said the government eyes to organize the Kadiwa areas schedule to guide consumers on their purchase.
“[Ang Kadiwa] ay hindi lamang parang event na mangyayari or weekend market, but we can have regular stores across regions,” Evangelista said on Friday.
[Translation: The Kadiwa is not only an event or a weekend market. We can have regular Kadiwa stores across regions.]
Evangelista said vegetables in Kadiwa Stores are ₱20 cheaper than others, and that consumers are limited to buying up to 4 kilograms of rice, fitted for household consumption.
