DA, uniformed services partner expand Kadiwa program

The Department of Agriculture (DA) has partnered with the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to expand the Kadiwa ng Pangulo program.

In separate events on Friday, Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. led the launch of Kadiwa ng Pangulo stores at the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame and the AFP headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, both in Quezon City. PNP chief P/Gen. Rommel Marbil and AFP Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner Jr. hosted the respective events.

Kadiwa ng Pangulo centers, which sell affordable agricultural products such as rice, vegetables and fruits, will also be set up in select police and military camps nationwide.

“By eliminating the middlemen, the Kadiwa stores ensure fair prices for farmers and lower costs for consumers,” Laurel said, emphasizing that this move would bring the country closer to achieving a sustainable agricultural economy.

“If our country is food-secure — where the supply is stable and prices are affordable — we will have a more stable nation,” said Brawner, with Marbil echoing the sentiment.

The Kadiwa ng Pangulo program offers affordable rice through the Rice-for-All initiative. Prices are lower by P3: RFA5 (5 percent broken grains) is at P43 per kilo, RFA25 (25 percent broken) at P35, and RFA100 (100 percent broken) at P33.