The solon also said that making the Kadiwa program permanent would help eliminate the need for farmers and fisherfolk to approach unscrupulous middlemen.
AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert T. Lee backed President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.’s plan to put up permanent Kadiwa stores across the country.
“Suportado natin ang planong gawing permanente ang Kadiwa. In fact, we have been calling for the institutionalization of the program and filed a bill towards this end because it presents a win-win scenario for all concerned. Winner ang magsasaka, winner ang mamimili, Winner Tayo Lahat,” Lee said.
Marcos announced his plan to establish more Kadiwa centers during an interview on Wednesday.
“So, this Kadiwa program will just continue because now we are considering to evolve it. These won’t be so-called pop-up centers, but we will have a permanent Kadiwa center in various LGUs. We are studying the potential sites,” Marcos said.
Meanwhile, House Bill No. 3957 or the “Kadiwa Agri-Food Terminal” bill seeks to institutionalize the program through an initial P25 billion fund for the Department of Agriculture to set up and manage Kadiwa Agri-Food Terminals in every local government unit in the country.
The lawmaker said that scaling up the Kadiwa initiative across the whole country could be a concrete and immediate intervention to the current food crisis.
Lee also said that making the Kadiwa program permanent would help eliminate the need for farmers and fisherfolk to approach unscrupulous middlemen.
“Makakatulong ito para maging mas stable at mura na ang presyo ng pagkain dahil may direct access na sa pagitan ng mga producer at mamimili,” the solon said.
He then called on Congress to pass the bill in support of the President’s plan.
“Kaya sana sa lalong madaling panahon ay mapag-usapan na ang ating panukalang batas at maipasa na,” said Lee.
He also urged local government units to as early as now coordinate with concerned national agencies on how to operationalize the President’s plan.
“I hope that we can put this plan into action as soon as possible. This is an opportunity for the national government, Congress, and our LGUs to work together to alleviate the people’s plight.
Our collaboration will be key in making this work, kaya sana ngayon pa lang ay mag-usap-usap na kung paano ito maisasagawa,” he added.
