Panfilo Lacson bats for institutionalizing Kadiwa program
Former Sen. Panfilo Lacson. (INQUIRER.net file photo)
MANILA, Philippines — Senatorial aspirant Panfilo Lacson said on Thursday he was eyeing the institutionalization of the Kadiwa program to help eliminate middlemen that add up to agricultural costs and let local government units (LGUs) intervene directly in the supply chain.
He said this in a press conference ahead of the Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas’ proclamation rally in Iloilo City.
“I want to study how to institutionalize Kadiwa stores through legislation so that we can eliminate the numerous middlemen since this will directly connect producers to consumers with the help of local government units,” Lacson said in Filipino.
READ: Admin senatorial candidates defend Marcos attacks vs other bets
The Kadiwa program is a government-run retail system designed to connect farmers directly with consumers.
It’s aligned with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to maintain food security and allow the marginalized sector to afford agricultural products at a lower price.
In the same press conference, Lacson pointed out that some LGUs have already adopted the Kadiwa program.
“Ito’y napa-practice na sa ibang probinsya na kung saan nakikialam na ang [LGUs], nag-i-intervene, na ‘yung mga produce ng mga farmers ay sila rin ang bumibili at dini-distribute sa mga Kadiwa stores, nang sa gayon, ‘pag nawala ‘yong mga middlemen, malaki ang baba ng presyo,” he said.
“This is already being practiced in some provinces where LGUs intervene by purchasing farmers’ produce and distributing them to Kadiwa stores. This way, by eliminating middlemen, prices drop significantly,” he said.
He added that, instead of the Kadiwa program being temporary, it would be better to institutionalize it through legislation to help not only farmers but also ordinary consumers.
Stronger MSME support in Iloilo
Meanwhile, former senator Manny Pacquiao emphasized the critical role that micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) play in the country’s economic recovery, thus the need to help them.
“Dito sa bansa natin, 99 percent ang small, medium enterprises, at kung hindi natin ‘yan sila tutulungan, hindi natin palalakasin ‘yan, imposible na maka-recover agad tayo,” Pacquiao said during the press conference.
(99 percent of businesses in the country are small and medium enterprises, and if we do not help and strengthen them, it will be impossible for us to recover quickly.)
ACT-CIS Party-list Representative Erwin Tulfo, for his part, proposed the expansion of the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Sustainable Livelihood Program.
Tulfo emphasized that under the program, beneficiaries must first undergo Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) training before receiving funding.
Lacson also echoed his colleagues’ view on MSMEs.
“Kapag hindi natin tinulungan at pinalakas ‘yong MSMEs natin, marami pong maaapektuhan,” he said.
(If we do not help and strengthen our MSMEs, many will be affected.)
