The higher income guaranteed by the “Kadiwa ng Pangulo” (KNP) has enticed more farmers, fisherfolk, and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Antique province to join the program.
Ge Anthony Recopuerto, Antique Provincial Government Community Affairs Officer and Kadiwa coordinator, said in an interview Thursday that this national program seeks to empower the farming community by providing them with a direct and effective farmer-to-community food chain supply.
“We have already, so far, conducted four KNP this year. And right now, there are already 36 exhibitors who are farmers, fisher folks, and MSMEs joining the program,” he said.
He added that exhibitors generated a total sales of PHP737,884 from the four KNP, which they staged since April, with each participant earning PHP1,000 to PHP2,000 in one day.
He said before joining the KNP, the exhibitors could barely earn such an amount, in addition to the challenge of transporting their goods to the market.
“The Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) also provides transport for their agricultural products from the highlands or mountainous areas of the province,” Recopuerto said.
He added that exhibitors are provided with free space to sell their produce. They also earn more because they no longer have to go through middlemen.
“The San Jose de Buenavista local government unit (LGU) provides free space at the Business Park for those joining the KNP,” Recopuerto said.
The exhibitors also get paid PHP480 wage per day for five days by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) through the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/ Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program.
Recopuerto said another KNP is set this coming Sept. 16-18 at the Business Park, with fisherfolk associations assisted by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) as among the participants.
“San Jose de Buenavista LGU, through its Municipal Agriculture Office, will also display its own products from Farmville,” Recopuerto said.
Farmville in the municipality of San Jose de Buenavista is a demonstration farm producing organic vegetables and chicken. (PNA)
