Kadiwa Stores' institutionalization sought

Some members of the Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas are advocating for legislation to institutionalize the Kadiwa program, a government-run retail system connecting farmers directly with consumers, to reduce food prices and curb inflation.

Senatorial aspirant Panfilo Lacson said the proposal would eliminate middlemen, a major factor in high agricultural costs, and allow local government units (LGUs) to directly intervene in the supply chain.

“I want to study how to institutionalize Kadiwa, the stores, by way of legislation so that we can eliminate the many middlemen because this goes directly with the help of the LGUs as well,” Lacson said at a press conference in Iloilo City.

Alyansa, a 12-member Senate slate, is running under the banner “Bagong Pilipinas.”

The Kadiwa program, originally introduced during the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., aimed to stabilize food prices by directly linking farmers and fisherfolk to consumers, bypassing traders.

The initiative was revived and expanded under President Marcos Jr. as part of his administration’s efforts to combat inflation and support the agricultural sector.

Lacson pointed out that some LGUs have already adopted the Kadiwa program, demonstrating that government-backed farm-to-market interventions can be effective in reducing costs.

“This is already being practiced in other provinces where LGUs are intervening, buying the produce of farmers and distributing it to Kadiwa stores, so that, when the middlemen are gone, prices will drop significantly,” said Lacson.

While Kadiwa stores have largely been temporary, Lacson underscored the need for a national law to make them a permanent fixture.

“So, instead of this being temporary, it would be good to institutionalize it by way of legislation to help not only our farmers but also ordinary consumers,” Lacson said.

Lacson’s push for a permanent Kadiwa system aligns with Alyansa’s broader mission to reduce the cost of living and strengthen food security.

The candidates also said they would champion measures to strengthen micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

Former Senator Manny Pacquiao, on the other hand, stressed the critical role of MSMEs in economic recovery and the importance of supporting their growth. He promised to secure additional funding for the sector.

For his part, ACT-CIS Partylist Representative Erwin Tulfo proposed expanding the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP), particularly for impoverished communities and unemployed individuals.