A LAWMAKER has expressed his support for extending the “Kadiwa ng Pasko” program beyond Christmas to help Filipino families cope with high food prices.

“Suportado natin ang pagpapatuloy ng Kadiwa kahit sa susunod na taon. In fact, we should be looking at institutionalizing this program and implementing it on a much larger scale because this is a program that helps not just consumers but also producers,” AGRI Party-list Representative Wilbert T. Lee said.

The program, launched nationwide in November, aims to provide a market to local farmers and small enterprises while giving the public access to affordable food and other necessities.

Consumers can buy National Food Authority (NFA) rice for as low as P25 per kilo, and sugar at P70 per kilo, at the Kadiwa ng Pasko rolling stores.

According to Lee, the Kadiwa stores provide the ideal template the country should achieve to fulfill the public’s right to cheap and healthy food and ensure the viability of farmers’ and fisherfolk’s livelihood.

“Ganito naman talaga dapat ang target ng agrikultura natin, na mapababa natin ang mga presyo ng mga bilihin upang hindi magutom ang mga mamamayan, at ang mabigyan ng disenteng pagkakakitaan ang mga magsasaka at mangingisda. Sa ganitong sistema, Winner Tayo Lahat,” Lee said.

The lawmaker also said that the extension of the Kadiwa program would be “at least a year-long gift for Filipino families groaning under the weight of expensive food.”

“Napakalaking tulong, lalo pa’t patuloy na umaaray ang madla, at nangangamba dahil sa pagtaas ng presyo ng mga bilihin,” Lee said.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ fourth-quarter Consumer Expectations Survey (CES) noted that Filipino consumers’ sentiment was “more pessimistic.”

The overall consumer index weakened to -14.6% from the previous quarter’s -12.9% due to concerns over surging commodity prices and household expenses, low income, and fewer available jobs and working family members, the BSP

AUTHOR PROFILE

Ryan Ponce Pacpaco