Extend Kadiwa ng Pasko – lawmaker

AGRI party-list Rep. Wilbert Lee on Tuesday sought the extension of the Kadiwa ng Pasko program beyond Christmas to assist Filipino families struggling with high food prices. 

“In fact, we should be looking at institutionalizing this program and implementing it on a much larger scale because this helps not just consumers but also producers,” Lee said.

The program, which went nationwide in November, aims to provide local farmers and small businesses a market while simultaneously providing the public with affordable food and other basic necessities.

At the Kadiwa ng Pasko rolling stores, consumers may purchase National Food Authority (NFA) rice for as little as P25 per kilo and sugar for as low as P70 per kilo.

Lee said the Kadiwa stores are the best model for the country to follow in order to satisfy the public’s right to affordable and healthy food while also guaranteeing the sustainability of farmers’ and fisherfolk’s livelihood.

“This is what our agriculture industry should do: cut commodity prices so that people aren’t left hungry, and provide a decent livelihood for farmers and fishermen. In this way, we are all winners,” he said.