Davao City: While Davao region is placed under Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ), basic necessities and commodities should be made available in every community as we follow the mandatory stay at home order.
The current health emergency situation increased the demand for fruits and vegetables but while we have an enough supply for these commodities, both the farmers who are mostly from Marilog, Tamayong and Calinan and consumers were having a hard time in marketing and buying the produce because of the limited movement of people and vehicle.
Through the Department of Agriculture XI’s (DA-XI) Kadiwa on Wheels, farmers’ associations and coops as well as exhibitors were given the chance to market their produce directly to the communities as scheduled by the agency.
“This initiative ‘Kadiwa’ or ‘one thought’ is the agency’s way of helping our farmers who we considered as our frontliners—ensuring that safe and affordable food is available in every Filipino table in this kind of situarion,” said DA-XI Agribusiness and Marketing chief Janet Dobli.
“Since we started on April 3, we have assisted 600 farmers and fishers from various associations and coops in the region such as the Davao Regional Agriculture Cooperative (DRACO) and Barangay Food Terminals (BFTs),” she added.
The Kadiwa on Wheels that has delivered 5,800 kg of fruits and vegetables daily has reached Brgys. Talomo, GSIS Homeowners Matina, Catalunan Grande, Malagos, Tacunan, Ilang, Baguio Proper, Tagakpan, Mintal and Deca Homes Tigatto in Davao City and in Panabo City in coordination with the City Agriculture Office.
With the help of the Barangay Local Government Units (BLGUs) in conducting the Kadiwa on Wheels, the ECQ guidelines are still followed during the market fair.
“We have served over 4,000 households since we started which also means the same number of people we have prevented the risk of being infected by buying close to home,” Dobli said.
The Kadiwa on Wheels for this week is scheduled on April 16 in Matina Aplaya, April 17 in Brgy. Lasang and April 18 in Brgy. Panacan.
Locals are required to bring their Food and Medicine Pass, wear mask, bring eco-bag and practice social distancing as per ECQ guidelines. | via Celso Vergara, RAFIS11
Photos : Kadiwa on Wheels April 15 : Brgy. Baguio Proper, Cadalian, Tawan-tawan April 16 – Brgy. Matina Aplaya and Brgy. Malagos