The Department of Agriculture is targeting to establish at least 260 more Kadiwa centers nationwide by mid-2025, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu-Laurel Jr. said Tuesday.

At the launch of the first-ever Kadiwa ng Pangulo (KNP) Expo at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City, Tiu-Laurel said 41 Kadiwa centers, which sell rice at PHP29 and PHP42 per kg., have been established nationwide to date.

“Our target for the Kadiwa for the second quarter of next year is to add another 260 stores, hopefully by May to June next year, and the eventual target by 2028 is a total of 1,500 Kadiwa stores nationwide,” he said.

In his speech, Tiu-Laurel said the combined expertise and resources of concerned government agencies have been instrumental in the success of the KNP program and its beneficiaries.

The KNP, a flagship project of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., aims to empower farmers and fisherfolk, including the agricultural sector, and bring accessible food products to consumers.

“Sa pamamagitan ng KNP, matutulungan natin ang mga magsasaka na direktang makabenta ng kanilang mga produkto, dahil dito tataas ang kanilang kita habang natutulungan naman natin ang mga namimili na magkaroon ng access sa mas mura at mas masustansiyang pagkain. At ito ang mithiin ng ating Pangulo na walang magugutom sa bagong Pilipinas (Through KNP, we can help farmers to sell their products directly, increasing their income while helping consumers to have access to cheaper and more nutritious food. And this is the goal of our President that no one will go hungry),” Tiu-Laurel said.

A major highlight of the expo was the unveiling of the “Bigger, Better, and More Kadiwa ng Pangulo Para sa Masaganang Bagong Pilipinas”.

The DA said the KNP has attained milestones through collaboration among government agencies and stakeholders, including the Department of Labor and Employment, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Presidential Communications Office and Presidential Management Staff.

Through the program, the DA hopes to further improve the food supply chain and achieve sales targets through the exhibition of agri-fishery products.

Tiu-Laurel noted that the KNP provides essential logistical support to farmers by linking them to the market.

Meanwhile, he said the DA is looking at improving the KNP with a “food train”.

“May mga trucks na bibilhin ang Kadiwa program and DA that will have regular schedules from the farms to the Kadiwa distribution centers, para alam na ng farmer, o may truck na aalis every Thursday or every Saturday papuntang Manila (The Kadiwa program and the DA will buy trucks that will have regular schedules from the farms to the Kadiwa distribution centers so that the farmer knows, a truck will leave, say every Thursday or every Saturday going to Manila),” he said.

He, however, said this service would have a minimal fee to be shouldered by farmers, which would benefit the transporters. (PNA)