CITY OF SAN FERNANDO–President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. launched in Pampanga on Monday the simultaneous opening of Kadiwa ng Pangulo in 82 provinces and 16 cities to ensure fair prices of commodities from food producers to consumers.
To set up the Kadiwa stores and projects nationwide, the President signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with local government units for the establishment of these.
“This is a significant event because the MOA institutionalizes the Kadiwa at the local level,” the President remarked.
Pampanga Gov. Dennis “Delta” Pineda thanked the President for opening the Kadiwa stores, saying these bring food growers and small entrepreneurs closer to the market while these sell affordable food to consumers.
The father of Mr. Marcos first rolled out the stores in 1980 to improve access to food supplies, according to Local Government Secretary Benjamin Abalos.
Governor Pineda urged local officials in the province to help put up Kadiwa stores in their respective municipalities.
Under Governor Pineda, the provincial government provides financial, logistical, infrastructure and health support to members of the agricultural sector.
Similar to the concept of Kadiwa, the provincial government collaborates with the Department of Agriculture, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Trade and Industry and other agencies in delivering services through programs and projects. Top officials of these departments also signed the same MOA.
“This is a whole-of-government approach,” Mr. Marcos said.
“Mahal naming Pangulo, maraming maraming salamat po sa pagmamahal at tulong na ibinibigay sa amine Kapampangan,” Governor Pineda said.
The President and Governor Pineda handed various checks amounting to P158.2 million to farmers, workers, students and small entrepreneurs in Pampanga. The trade fairs drew 42 exhibitors.