The Marcos administration has vowed to put up more Kadiwa outlets to include even communities located in far-flung areas across the country.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday instructed the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of the Interior and Local Government to widen the coverage of the “Kadiwa ng Pangulo” as he launched the initiative in Bataan.

“Pararamihin natin ito para kahit sa malalayo, sa mga lupalop ay makakaabot ang Kadiwa dahil lahat naman tayo dito sa Pilipinas ay nangangailangan ng tulong dito (We will put up more of Kadiwa even in far-flung areas because everyone of us here in the Philippines need help),” he said in his speech in Limay, Bataan.

As the government opens more Kadiwa stores, Marcos said it must also focus on improving agricultural productivity and reduce the country’s reliance on importations to stabilize the prices of basic goods.

Since its launch last year, the Kadiwa program has been successful in helping Filipinos, particularly ordinary consumers and those in the agriculture sector.

Regular programs of both Kadiwa and Kadiwa ng Pasko earned more than PHP400 million in 2022, based on government figures.

Farmers, fisherfolk and small businesses generated more than PHP3 million in two months through the initiative.

Marcos also launched Kadiwa outlets in Cebu, Manila, Batangas and Camarines Sur with more Filipino sellers and consumers now enjoying the benefits of the program.

This is part of the continuing expansion of the Kadiwa outlets nationwide as a platform for Filipino farmers, fisherfolk and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to generate more income through a direct farm-to-consumer trade.

Earlier, Marcos said the government’s thrust is to assist MSMEs to recover from the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic.

He also noted that the initiative aimed to provide consumers with cheap basic goods amid the rising inflation in the country. (PNA)