Marcos: Kadiwa ng Pasko to continue beyond Christmas

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on Saturday said the government will continue the Kadiwa ng Pasko program even beyond Christmas to ensure that consumers will be able to buy agricultural items at lower prices.

"Ngayon po, ipapaliwanag ko po, alam ko po ang nakapangalan ay Kadiwa ng Pasko, ngunit parang ginawa namin itong pilot project lamang. Hindi po. Kahit na matapos na ang Pasko, ipapagpatuloy po natin ito para merong pagkukuhanan ang ating kababayan ng mas murang bilihin," Marcos said at the launch of the Kadiwa ng Pasko caravan at Malanday Covered Court in Valenzuela City.

(Now I would like to explain that although such is the name of Kadiwa ng Pasko, this is just like a pilot project. Even if Christmas season is over, we will continue this to let our countrymen have access to lower priced goods.)

The President said when they started the Kadiwa program during his term, there were only less than 20 such rolling stores in Metro Manila. But now there are more than 350 Kadiwa rolling stores in the country.

“Ang Kadiwa sa Pasko ay ang aming munting pagtulong para naman maging mas masaya ang ating Pasko itong taon na ito,” Marcos said.

(The Kadiwa ng Pasko is our small way to help the public have a happier Christmas this year.)

Marcos also thanked the Department of Agriculture, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and traders and manufacturers who went to the Saturday event. Reappointed DTI Secretary Alfredo Pascual was also at the Kadiwa launch in Valenzuela City.

"Kaya't mabuti ito, itong Kadiwa, hindi lamang nabibigyan ng pagkakataon ang taumbayan na makabili ng kailangan na bilihin sa mas mababang presyo, ngunit nabibigyan din natin ng pagkakataon ang mga local producers ng mga maliliit na produkto na meron silang merkado, meron silang palengke kung saan sila maaaring pumunta at ipagbili ang kanilang mga ginawang gamit. Kaya po marami po tayong nakikita na advantage sa ating ginagawa na Kadiwa ng Pasko," he said.

(This Kadiwa is good because it not only gives the public an opportunity to buy what they need at lower prices, but our local producers are also given a venue to sell their wares. They have a market where they can go to and sell their products. We see many advantages in our Kadiwa ng Pasko.)

Also participating in the Kadiwa ng Pasko are the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), National Food Authority (NFA) and the beneficiaries of the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced (TUPAD) Workers Program of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

Marcos thereafter went to a warehouse of the National Food Authority (NFA) in Valenzuela City on Saturday morning to check its supply of rice.

He said he went to the NFA warehouse because he wanted to see where the supply of rice being sold in Kadiwa stores comes from.

The President said there is enough supply of rice and more are coming. —KG, GMA Integrated News