Kadiwa fund to prop up farmers
WHILE the government is addressing the rampant agricultural smuggling, the full implementation of the Kadiwa Food Mobilization Fund will be implemented to help local farmers.
This was the consensus agreed upon between lawmakers and officials of the concerned agencies particularly the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
In the meeting, Speaker Martin Romualdez called for an all-out war against hoarders and unscrupulous traders of onion and other agricultural products.
Romualdez said among the action plans firmed up is for the DA to tap the P276 million Kadiwa Food Mobilization Fund under the 2023 budget to buy the harvest of farmers at prices higher than the production cost, and sell it through Kadiwa at farm gate prices to force hoarders to unload their stocks.
“We cannot allow it anymore. It’s too much. Kawawa ang tao,” Romualdez said.
Earlier, Romualdez warned hoarders and traders manipulating the supply and prices of onion and other agricultural commodities that their days are numbered.
The Speaker asked the DA and DTI officials to help Congress identify these unscrupulous businessmen so they can be invited to the forthcoming congressional investigation on the manipulation of supply and prices of agricultural products.
Lawmakers recognize the right of businessmen under a regime of free trade to earn profit but it should not come at the expense and misery of the people.
He added that concerned agencies must ensure closer cooperation and get their acts together to ensure an effective campaign against hoarders and manipulative traders, noting that the agencies give different data on the situation.
“We are also giving a budget to the DA and your agency so we want to make sure you are performing optimally. It doesn’t seem to be the case at the moment—but we want to get there. Because at the end of the day, with the best data, the best feedback, we can make the best policies so we can avoid this situation where some unscrupulous personalities and cartels are taking advantage of the situation,” he said.
Among the DA officials present in the meeting were Usec. Mercedita A. Sombilla, Undersecretary for Policy, Planning and Regulations; Asec. Kristine Y. Evangelista, Assistant Secretary for Consumer Affairs; and Asec. James A. Layug, Assistant Secretary for DA Inspectorate and Enforcement; Usec. Ruth B. Castelo, of Consumer Protection Group; Werlina Lim, Division Chief, Price and Supply Division; Atty. Marco Maat,Deputy Department Legislative Liaison Officer (DDLLO); and Ma. Concepcion Simeon, Department Legislative Liaison Specialist (DLLS), were among the officials who represented DTI.
