LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – The province is the National Grand Winner for Outstanding Kadiwa Implementer in the local government unit (LGU).
Pangasinan was the outstanding implementer in Region 1 earlier for the Department of Agriculture (DA) initiated Kadiwa. The project was given intensive support by the province led by Governor Ramon V. Guico III, through the ‘Kadiwa ed Kapitolyo’. The local version is held twice a month specifically every 10th and 25th at the Capitol grounds here.
The Kadiwa on Wheels, on the other hand, are held monthly in other localities through the assistance of other LGUs.
The Provincial Agriculture’s Office (PAO) reported that around 2,500 farmers and fisherfolk cooperatives and associations have benefitted from the program.
The project is conducted with the support of other line agencies like the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and the National Food Authority (NFA).
Provincial Agriculturist Dalisay Moya said the Kadiwa kicked off with 20 exhibitors but increased in number in the succeeding months.
At present, about a hundred Kadiwa-related activities are conducted with the support of several partner agencies and LGUs throughout the province.
The PAO said that exhibitors have over P20 million gross sales.
“We have generated a total sales of P20,985,234.60 and we have helped 2,582 exhibitors. The total household that we have served is around 55,710,” said Provincial Agribusiness and Marketing Service Coordinator Ramy Sison, in a mix of English and Filipino, earlier.
Launched in 2022, the Kadiwa ng Pangulo is a marketing initiative of the DA to empower local farmers, fisherfolk and local entrepreneurs through establishing a direct market link to enable them sell their produce directly to the consumers at affordable prices.
Kadiwa offers safe, fresh, and affordable food products like vegetables, dairy products, fruits, fish and meat products, rice, native delicacies, among others.
Ruby F. Rayat/PIMRO
