By Marita Moaje
MANILA – The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has partnered with the Department of Agriculture (DA) to make the PHP20 rice available to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their families.
In a news release on Wednesday, Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said the initiative delivers on President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s campaign promise to make quality, affordable rice accessible to Filipino families, while ensuring that local rice farmers receive fair compensation for their produce.
“Our President Marcos Jr. truly values our OFWs, our modern-day heroes in our Bagong Pilipinas,” he said.
“The government efforts to ensure affordable rice to Filipino households also flow to OFWs and their families, which is being felt in communities.”
Cacdac said the affordable rice will soon be available at the Kadiwa ng Pangulo at the DMW Central Office in Mandaluyong City.
The Kadiwa program, led by the DA, aims to connect consumers directly to farmers, fishers, and microenterprises, reducing market layers that typically increase prices, and create a more inclusive, equitable food distribution system under the Bagong Pilipinas agenda.
Cacdac encouraged consumers to purchase responsibly and follow distribution guidelines to ensure that the low-cost rice benefits as many families as possible.
Meanwhile, the DMW is also collaborating with the DA to support OFWs and their families who want to venture into agribusiness through the national reintegration program.
This includes providing technical assistance and guidance for aspiring OFW “agri-preneurs.”
“The agricultural sector is a worthwhile business and investment opportunity for our dear OFWs. The DMW is partnering with the DA to support them as we promote agribusiness as a sustainable and viable program for the reintegration of OFWs,” Cacdac said. (PNA)
