‘Kadiwa ng Pangulo’
IT is reassuring to know that Filipino consumers, particularly the poorest of the poor, are now assured of cheap basic commodities amid the rising inflation in the country.
People concede that the establishment of “Kadiwa ng Pangulo” outlets in various parts of the Philippines is a big help to the farmers, fishermen and other farm workers.
Instead of selling their harvests, like garlic, onion and other vegetables, to highly-enterprising middlemen, farmers and fishers just rely on the services of “Kadiwa.”
It is public knowledge that many middlemen, who buy the farmers’ products at low prices, earn more than the farm workers, who find themselves heavily-indebted.
“Pagkatapos ng anihan, maraming magsasaka ang lubog sa utang dahil sa napakataas na presyo ng mga gamit sa bukid, kagaya ng pataba at pestisidio,” lamented a farmer.
That’s why they commended President Marcos and his administration for their all-out efforts to help those in the agriculture sector, especially farmers and fishermen.
We believe that Marcos, through the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of the Interior and Local Government, is on the right track in setting up more Kadiwa stores.
At present, there are Kadiwa outlets in Cebu, Manila, Quezon City, Batangas, Camarines Sur and Bataan.
Last Friday, President Marcos instructed the DTI and the DILG to widen the coverage of the “Kadiwa ng Pangulo” program and establish outlets even in far-flung communities.
Making sure that the people, notably the poor, are assured of easy access to low-priced but quality commodities throughout the year is, without doubt, commendable.
