DA TO OPEN 800-1,000 KADIWA STORES

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) has revealed it will open Kadiwa franchising to private operators or cooperatives as the agency gears toward establishing more outlets in the coming years.

During the Malacañang Insider program, Agriculture Secretary Francisco “Kiko” Tiu Laurel Jr. said about 230 Kadiwa sites are operating all over the country, 17 of which are under regular operation.

Laurel said those 17 sites will be increased almost every month. He added the government will also standardize the outlets’ operating hours and days and carry out information dissemination.

“Kapag na-establish na naman iyong smooth logistics flow ng goods at saka iyong takbo ng transaksiyon ay i-eexpand na natin iyan in the next four years up to ang target ko is 800 to 1,000 stores,” Laurel said.

“Of course, hindi ganoon kadali iyon but we will also do Kadiwa franchising. We will allow private sector operators or cooperatives to use the Kadiwa name in selected sites as long as they abide by the rules and guidelines or policies of the DA. At ang importante, nandiyan iyong mga Kadiwa at magbenta sa tamang halaga,” he said.

In his third State of the Nation Address (SONA) last month, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. ordered concerned government agencies to make all Kadiwa stores permanent.

The Kadiwa program is a farm-to-consumer market chain that does away with intermediaries, allowing local producers to generate higher income by selling their produce directly to consumers.

It was launched during the presidency of the late President Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr. to guarantee food availability and affordability in high-demand areas and in communities with low-income families.