A House Bill that would help to provide farmers and fishers a venue to market and trade their products at affordable prices has been filed in the 19th Congress.
House Bill 3957 or the "Kadiwa Agri—Food Terminal Act," authored by AGRI Partylist Rep. Wilbert Lee, if enacted, would institutionalize the Kadiwa terminals, which would aid in developing a national network of agricultural and fishery food terminals in each city and municipality across the country.
Lee claims that this is an effort to lower the high prices of essential commodities amid the inflation problem and increase the mobility of locally produced goods throughout the nation at a lower cost.
"In line with the clear direction of the current administration to prioritize helping our agriculture and fisheries workers and make food products affordable, it is clear how scaling up the Kadiwa initiative in many regions across the country can be a concrete and immediate intervention to the food crisis we face," the lawmaker said.
Citing the skyrocketing fuel and essential commodities price increase, Lee explained that the Kadiwa centers adjacent to the community would allow farmers and fisherman to sell their products instantly without traveling far.
While consumers, at the same time, would have easy access to cheaper and healthier food.
The "Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita Program" is a Department of Agriculture agribusiness and marketing initiative that helps connect local farmers and fishermen directly to consumers. Prices in Kadiwa are 10 to 20 percent cheaper than those in other areas.
In accordance with this legislation, the DA is required to develop and administer agri — food terminals and shall decide between some options in close consultation with the local government units.
Kadiwa Retail or Direct Selling — establishing physical food terminals to accommodate farmers and fisherfolks' products for sale to customers and food suppliers; Kadiwa on Wheels — using rolling stores in vehicles to bring agri — fishery products to barangays and villages; Kadiwa sa Pamahalaan — establishing trading centers within the proximity of the government's a property/office through a partnership with DA or other government agency within the LGU.
If passed, P25 billion will be appropriated for the program's first year of operation, and P10 billion will be included in the DA budget for its implementation and continuous expansion.
Lee said that by taking this measure, farmers would be liberated from the control of shady middlemen and dealers, and consumers would gain from lower prices and more revenue for farmers and fishermen.
