By Leonel Abasola
MANILA – Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Monday urged the Department of Agriculture (DA) to expand the deployment of Kadiwa stores to provide affordable food items to vulnerable sectors affected by the Middle East conflict.
In a statement, Gatchalian said the expansion should cover geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs) to ensure that vulnerable groups such as senior citizens, solo parents, persons with disability (PWDs), and beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) have access to essential food items.
“Dapat abot ng murang bilihin ang bawat Pilipino, hindi lang sa Metro Manila kundi hanggang sa pinakamalayong komunidad, dahil lahat tayo ay apektado ng krisis sa Middle East (Affordable commodities must reach every Filipino, not only here in Metro Manila, but in the farthest community, because we are all affected by the Middle East crisis),” he said.
Gatchalian said an important component of the Kadiwa ng Pangulo project is the Rice for All Program, through which the government buys palay from farmers and sells rice at more affordable prices.
“Expanding the program’s footprint will also directly support the local agricultural economy by providing more farmers with a guaranteed market for their produce,” he added.
Gatchalian’s call is among the proposals put forward by the Senate Proactive Response and Oversight for Timely and Effective Crisis Strategy (PROTECT) Committee, which he chairs.
The Kadiwa ng Pangulo is one of the flagship programs of the Marcos administration to address rising food prices.
It provides farmers, fisherfolk, and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) with venues to directly sell their produce and facilitates market linkages, removing unnecessary layers in the trading cycle. (PNA)
