Residents of Batac City and nearby towns on Thursday benefited from the local launching of the Kadiwa ng Pangulo program at the Imelda Cultural Center.

The trade fair, a nationwide initiative of the Marcos government to help Filipinos cope with rising food prices while ensuring income to local farmers, fisherfolk and small enterprises without intermediaries, will be held in Batac every 15th and 30th day of the month, organizers said.

“I am so glad the Kadiwa ng Pangulo finally reached Batac City. I got curious about what is in store for every stall, so I made rounds and bought some grocery items, fruits, and vegetables which are way cheaper than those sold in the market,” Lydia Madriaga, a resident of Nalupta village, said in an interview.

Among the best-selling items at the fair are cooking oil, sugar, fish sauce, special rice, in-season fruits and vegetables as well as meat products and poultry.

Handwoven bags and other livelihood products handcrafted by persons deprived of liberty at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) in Batac City were also offered during the fair.

“Thank you so much for patronizing our bayong (basket) products. This is a big help to our PDLs,” acting warden Jayson Mabuti of the BJMP Batac District Jail said. (PNA)