Marcos lays out plans to ensure food security

by aLden M. Monzon,

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. outlined on Monday his administration’s grand plan to secure the country’s food supply, focusing on expanding the number of governmentbacked food stores, boosting agricultural production, and pursuing a relentless campaign against smugglers and hoarders of agricultural goods whom he blamed for the escalation in the prices of basic food items.

During his State of the Nation Address (Sona) marking the end of his first year in office, Marcos said the “Kadiwa stores” — centers that directly link farmers to consumers thus leading to higher incomes for producers and lower prices for buyers

— were essential in bringing down the prices of rice, meat, fish, vegetable and sugar. The Kadiwa program was first introduced during the term of his father, Ferdinand Sr., and was revived in 2022 as part of his strategies as concurrent head of the Department of Agriculture to make basic food items more affordable to the masses.

“Malaking tulong ang mga Kadiwa stores, na ating muling binuhay at inilunsad. Ang layunin ng Kadiwa ay pag-ugnayin ang magsasaka at ang mamimili. Walang iba pang namamagitan. Walang dagdag na gastos at patong,” Marcos said during his televised national address.

[Translation: “Kadiwa stores, which we have revived and launched, have been a huge help. The purpose of Kadiwa is to connect farmers and consumers. No middlemen. No added cost and markup.”]

The President said they launched more than 700 Kadiwa stores nationwide which benefited 1.8 million families.

“The results were good so we will expand Kadiwa to the whole country,” he said in Filipino.

Smuggling

The President also reiterated his commitment to go after smugglers and hoarders of agricultural products, vowing to prosecute these criminals behind high prices of basic goods.

“Napapahamak hindi lamang ang mga magsasaka, kundi tayo na ring mga mamimili. Kaya hindi natin papayagan ang ganitong kalakaran. Bilang na ang mga araw ng mga smugglers at hoarders na iyan ,” he said.