A special Kadiwa ng Pangulo (KNP) outlet here dubbed as “KNP Para sa Manggagawa” has generated almost PHP100,000 in sales during its first day alone, giving additional income to local farmers.

In a message to the Philippine News Agency on Thursday, Johana Vi Gasga, Department of Labor and Employment in Bicol (DOLE-5) spokesperson, said the total sales in the KNP launching on Wednesday at the Ayala Malls here reached PHP97,338.

“It’s a good start for the first day of the Kadiwa, along with the Department of Agriculture (DA)-5 and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-5. The Kadiwa ng Pangulo Para sa Manggagawa, Livelihood Fair, and Diskwento Caravan will run six days from April 26 to May 1, 2023,” Gasga said.

Around 30 exhibitors of farmers and fishers cooperatives and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) displayed their products during the event.

Gasga noted that the Kadiwa program aims to ensure that food commodities are made available and accessible in high consumer demand areas by harnessing private sector participation, capacity enhancement of farmers’ cooperatives and associations and engaging community organizations’ participation in the food supply distribution system.

“DA’s Kadiwa is a market linkage facilitation program that has removed the unnecessary layers in the trading cycle. Fewer middlemen add to the selling value of the products with consumers benefitting from freshly harvested crops and other food items at fair cost. It also capacitates the food growers to be agri-preneurs,” she said.

The Diskwento Caravan (DC) is a DTI initiative in partnership with the manufacturers and distributors of basic necessities and prime commodities, which aims to provide reasonably-priced quality products to consumers.

“Kami po sa DOLE, full force na sumusuporta sa layunin ng ating Pangulo para mapababa ang presyo ng pangunahing bilihin at pagkain para sa mamamayan. Ito pong Kadiwa ay pre-labor day activity at ang pinakatanghal po nito ay sa May 1 na kung saan mayroon po tayong Trabaho, Negosyo, Kabuhayan Job Fair (We at DOLE, support in full force the goal of our President to lower the prices of basic goods and food for the people. This Kadiwa is a pre-Labor day activity and the highlight of it is on May 1st where we have the Employment, Business, Livelihood Job Fair),” DOLE-5 Regional Director Ma. Zenaida Angara-Campita said in a statement.

The livelihood fair spearheaded by DOLE aims to showcase the products made by the beneficiaries of the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP).

DOLE will also be providing salaries under Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) to all the profiled, participating sellers during the activities. (PNA)