President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday said he wants the "Kadiwa ng Pasko" to become a national program through partnership with local government units so it will be implemented even beyond the holiday season.

At the "Kadiwa ng Pasko" caravan in Quezon City, Marcos praised the Quezon City government for pioneering the project, which became a model for other LGUs in Metro Manila.

"Hindi lamang sa mga LGU. Magtutulungan na ang Office of the President at ang ating mga LGU para lahat dahan-dahang kumakalat ang dami nito. Kaya't 'yan po ang ating dapat ipagpatuloy (The Office of the President will collaborate with LGUs to make it available nationwide)," Marcos said.

He added that even after New Year, "Kadiwa ng Pasko" will continue until it becomes a national program so that everybody can benefit from it.

Through the Kadiwa project, the Marcos administration aims to offer cheaper prices of basic products, benefitting the consumers and at the same time providing a market to local agricultural producers as well as micro, small and medium enterprises.

The government, he said, wants to lower the price per kilo of rice to P25 through the Kadiwa project implementation, prompting the administration to implement the program throughout the Philippines.

He said the Kadiwa project is the best Christmas gift of the government to the public and that "it is the gift that keeps on giving."

The President said the Quezon City LGU has been the government model in the Kadiwa implementation and if a large city like Quezon City can successfully carry it out, other localities could do the same.

That is why, if Quezon City can do it, so can everybody. That is why we are looking at best practices that are feasible for everybody," he said in Filipino. "That is why I'm here to see how Kadiwa ng Pasko is being run by Quezon City so that everybody can realize some savings.

The "Kadiwa ng Pasko" project of the Marcos administration is seen to benefit thousands of farmers and fisherfolk by providing them additional profits as well as local consumers amid rising prices of basic commodities.

A total of 14 sites were opened simultaneously across the country during last month's launch, including 11 in the National Capital Region, one in Tacloban City, one in Davao de Oro, and one in Koronadal City, South Cotabato.

At least 28 "Kadiwa ng Pasko" sites will be open across the country before the year ends.