AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert T. Lee expressed his support for the extension of the Kadiwa ng Pasko program beyond Christmas to help Filipino families cope with high food prices.
“Suportado natin ang pagpapatuloy ng Kadiwa kahit sa susunod na taon. In fact, we should be looking at institutionalizing this program and implementing it on a much larger scale because this is a program that helps not just consumers but also producers,” Lee said.
The program, which was launched nationwide in November, aims to provide a market to local farmers and small enterprises while also giving the public access to affordable food and other basic necessities.
According to Lee, Kadiwa stores provide the ideal template that the country should achieve to fulfill the public’s right to cheap and healthy food, and ensure the viability of farmers’ and fisherfolk’s livelihood.
Consumers can buy National Food Authority (NFA) rice for as low as P25 per kilo, and sugar at P70 per kilo, at the Kadiwa ng Pasko rolling stores.
According to Lee, Kadiwa stores provide the ideal template that the country should achieve to fulfill the public’s right to cheap and healthy food, and ensure the viability of farmers’ and fisherfolk’s livelihood.
“Ganito naman talaga dapat ang target ng agrikultura natin, na mapababa natin ang mga presyo ng mga bilihin upang hindi magutom ang mga mamamayan, at ang mabigyan ng disenteng pagkakakitaan ang mga magsasaka at mangingisda. Sa ganitong sistema, Winner Tayo Lahat,” said the solon.
The lawmaker also said the extension of the Kadiwa program would be “at least a year-long gift for Filipino families groaning under the weight of expensive food.”
“Napakalaking tulong, lalo pa’t patuloy na umaaray ang madla, at nangangamba dahil sa pagtaas ng presyo ng mga bilihin,” Lee said.
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ fourth-quarter Consumer Expectations Survey (CES) noted that Filipino consumers’ sentiment was “more pessimistic.”
The overall consumer index weakened to -14.6% from the previous quarter’s -12.9% due to concerns over surging commodity prices and household expenses, low income, and fewer available jobs and working family members, the BSP said.
