The planned institutionalization of the Kadiwa Program in Iloilo City will provide sustained support for local farmers while offering Ilonggos access to affordable rice under the National Irrigation Administration’s (NIA) PHP29 per kilo rice program and the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) Rice-for-All initiative.
Sangguniang Panlungsod (City Council) Agriculture, Fisheries, Aquatic, and Natural Resources committee chair lawyer Frances Grace Parcon-Torres said they hope to approve the ordinance institutionalizing the program next week.
“The proposed ordinance is in relation to DILG Memorandum Circular 2024-003, which encourages local government units to set up Kadiwa ng Pangulo in their respective localities,” she said during their regular session on Wednesday.
She added that it is also one of the indicators for the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) of the Department of the Interior and Local Government.
The program has two components – it will give farmers the right venue to sell their produce and it would also provide financial grants ranging from PHP500,000 to PHP2 million for eligible farmer associations.
“There are two main components of the program. First, it will serve as a venue for our local farmers to sell their produce to the market. The second component is the financial grant. Aside from being an indicator of the SGLG, it has an exclusive financial grant for members of the Kadiwa Program. Our City Agriculture and the Department of Agriculture will aid our farmers in the city in applying for the grant,” she explained in a follow-up interview on Thursday.
Institutionalization will also prioritize Iloilo City for NIA’s PHP29 per kg. rice, benefiting senior citizens, solo parents, and persons with disabilities (PWDs).
Additionally, the Rice-for-All Program, offering PHP40 per kg. of rice (up to 25 kg. per person), will be made available through local dealers and wholesalers.
To complement these efforts, the city government plans to retain existing initiatives, including the Merkado Lokal, a monthly farmer’s market, and the Uswag Rolling Store, which brings fresh, affordable produce to communities. (PNA)
