PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said additional Kadiwa stores are set to be rolled out by the government including those which will cater to workers, to help the vulnerable members of society cope with high cost of living.
He said they decided to expand the duration of their “Kadiwa ng Pasko” program so it will continue beyond the Christmas season due to its popularity.
The project, which is now dubbed “Kadiwa ng Pangulo,” is an initiative of the national government to provide access to affordable food and other basic necessities to consumers through a farm-to-consumer scheme.
“At patuloy po aming gagawin ito—patuloy naming gagawin, padadamihin, palalakihin natin, at pararamihin natin, mas importante ay paramihin lalo na sa mga lugar na talaganghirap ang tao at hindi pa kaya ang mga presyuhan kung nasa palengke (We will continue holding more and bigger [Kadiwa events] especially in areas, where there many poor people, who cannot afford the prices in the markets),” Marcos said at the Kadiwa market at the Cebu Provincial Capitol Grounds last Monday.
There are currently over 500 Kadiwa events nationwide, according to the President.
He said the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is also planning a Kadiwa event together with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of Agriculture (DA), which will cater to workers.
“So this is what we are trying to make now,” Marcos said.
Labor groups have been demanding government action to provide aid to workers to cope with rising cost of basic necessities, particularly food, through a minimum wage hike, price control, and tax exemptions.