KADIWA NG PANGULO. Nelson Guevarra buys affordable rice at the “Kadiwa ng Pangulo” pop-up store at the Antique capitol grounds on Monday (July 17, 2023). Antique Acting Governor Edgar Denosta, in his message during the opening program, said 50 farmer’s cooperatives and micro-small and medium entrepreneurs joined the activity. (PNA photo by Annabel Consuelo J. Petinglay)
SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique – The President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. (PBBM) rice sold at PHP20 per kilo was a hit among Antiqueños with 500 kilograms disposed of during the opening of the “Kadiwa ng Pangulo” pop-up store at the Antique capitol grounds in San Jose de Buenavista on Monday.
Kalipunan ng mga Magsasaka ng Patnongon (KAMAPAT), a partner of the Jubilee Agila Bayanihan Agricultural Cooperative, sold 20 sacks of rice to consumers.
Each consumer is limited to two kilos upon buying PHP150.00 worth of vegetables.
“Our vegetables were easily sold out because of the influx of people who wanted to buy rice for a cheaper price,” Israel De Guzman, general manager of the Jubilee cooperative, said in an interview.
In collaboration with the Antique Office of Provincial Agriculture, the province established 24 permanent Kadiwa stores this year.
“The Kadiwa ng Pangulo is being held so that the farmers could sell their locally sourced produce,” Provincial Agriculturist Nicolasito Calawag said in his message during the opening program.
Acting Governor Edgar Denosta said during the opening program that the provincial government is fully supportive of this activity that gathered in one venue 50 farmers cooperatives and micro, small, and medium entrepreneurs in realizing the thrust of the President to make rice and other food supplies more affordable.
“Through the Kadiwa ng Pangulo, we are also able to revive backyard gardening aside from ensuring food sufficiency,” Denosta said in his message.
He encouraged the youth to engage in agriculture because they already have a market venue for their produce through the Kadiwa.
Nelson Guevarra, who moved his family from Pampanga to Antique, said he is glad for the Kadiwa ng Pangulo that gives them a venue to buy rice and vegetables.
“I am glad to be able to buy rice for a lower cost, especially the black rice since I am diabetic,” the 48-year-old Guevarra said in an interview. (PNA)
