enator Sherwin “Win” Gatchalian is urging the Marcos government to establish more Kadiwa Centers to bring agricultural products closer to consumers, a move seen to “subsequently lower food prices to more affordable levels.”
The senator said his appeal is intended to bring lower priced farm produce “para matugunan nang maayos ang problema sa mataas na presyo at kakulangan ng mga produktong pang-agrikultura, tulad ng sibuyas.”
“Kailangang mabigyan ng sapat na suporta ang mga magsasaka sa pamamagitan ng pagtatatag ng mas marami pang Kadiwa Centers,” he added.
Gatchalian said having more farm-to-market retail centers, such as Kadiwa stores, will empower farmers because it will significantly improve their productivity levels as they are likely to become more motivated in improving their farm production efficiency.
Ultimately, this would increase farm output levels, which, in turn, would mean higher income for farmers and lower food prices for consumers.”
“Ang Valenzuela City ay isa sa mga nabiyayaan ng Kadiwa. Ang kagandahan nito ay nababawasan ang mga middlemen. Dapat government-sponsored ang Kadiwa, ibig sabihin yung lugar, kuryente at tubig ay manggagaling sa gobyerno para ‘yung mga kooperatiba ay diretso nang makakabenta sa mas murang halaga dahil walang patong mula sa middleman.”
The senator suggested that “to further empower farmers, the government should also extend the provision of subsidies such as the Fuel Discount for Farmers and Fisherfolk Program.
Beginning in March last year, the agriculture department started implementing the program, which provides P3,000 in assistance to all farmer-beneficiaries.
Gatchalian reminded that the subsidy was “aimed at helping farmers and fishermen defray the cost of diesel or gasoline amid high fuel prices brought about by the Russia-Ukraine conflict and cushion the impact of the current global economic challenges and enable the food production sector to be more productive.