WITH more than nine out of 10 Filipinos saying they are now spending more on food, AGRI Rep. Wilbert T. Lee on Sunday said the government should prioritize setting up more Kadiwa stores to provide the people with an alternative where they could buy food items at a cheaper price.

“Hindi nakapagtataka na mas malaki ang bilang ng mga Pilipinong mas malaki ang ginagasta para sa pagkain ngayon dahil sa pagtaas ng presyo ng mga pangunahing bilihin,” lamented Lee.

According to the congressman, a former businessman whose family-owned LKY Group employs 3,000 Filipinos nationwide, “bilang dating negosyante, naiintindihan natin na wala ring magawa ang ating retailers kundi magtaas ng presyo dahil sa sunud-sunod na pagtaas ng presyo ng krudo.”

The Bicolano lawmaker pointed out that a Pulse Asia household expenditures survey conducted last month revealed 95 percent of Filipino adults spent more on food in the past three months, representing a 6 percent year-on-year increase.

Lee explained “prices in Kadiwa centers are lower by 10 to 20 percent since bringing the products won’t entail high transportation costs.”

“Winner tayong lahat kapag nagawa nating lagyan ng Kadiwa center ang bawat bayan at lungsod sa buong bansa,” he said.

The Kadiwa centers are the agribusiness and marketing initiative of the Department of Agriculture to help link farmers and fishers directly to consumers.

Lee had previously urged the government to open up more Kadiwa centers to make affordable food accessible to more customers and curb food inflation.

Lee, principal author of House Bill No. 3957, urged his colleagues in the House of Representatives to prioritize its passage once Congress resumes in November.

This measure proposes to mandate the establishment of Kadiwa centers as agri-food terminals in every city and municipality in the country.

“If successfully rolled out in every city and municipality, these agri-food terminals and centers will serve as a place where farmers and fisherfolk can sell their produced goods directly to consumers and the general market,” said the solon.

Lee also stressed that policy changes need to be institutionalized to increase agricultural productivity and lower rice and vegetable prices.

The Pulse Asia survey sampled 1,200 adults who were interviewed face-to-face from September 10 to 14, 2023. It has a ± 2.8% error margin at 95 percent confidence level.

The survey revealed that 83 percent of Filipinos said they spent more on rice while 61 percent identified non-rice food items in particular.